By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – The Uncle Lasse gelding Tarpon Springs S won his initial United States start after being shipped over from Sweden, taking a $12,000 conditioned trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
It was quite chilly in Philly on Sunday, and driver Corey Callahan looked to have ice water in his veins and he stayed along the rail with the favorite when the outside tier formed to go after pacesetting Unique Wedding. Callahan and Tarpon Spring S finally joined the two-wide flow into third-over position, then went three-wide at the three-quarters while appearing to have plenty of trot. Despite being three-deep on the last bend and under minimal urging from his pilot, Tarpon Springs S continued on nicely to overhaul the leader by 1½ lengths at the end of the 1:59 mile for trainer Joe Bongiorno and the partnership of Robert Weinstein, Nicole DiConstanzo, Thomas Svensen, and Nicklas Oestergaard-Andersen.
Callahan had three sulky successes on Sunday, tying him with George Napolitano Jr. for honors in that statistic.
While Tarpon Springs S was one of seven favorites to win Sunday, there were also two $50+ “bombers.” One was a repeat longshot: Gatsby, who parlayed a pocket trip into a $56.00 victory on November 10, took his field coast-to-coast (not the easiest path to victory this day) for amateur driver Steve Reisenweaver to pay $111.00 on Sunday, joining Common Parlance and Captain Hansen as the only horses to return $50+ to win twice in 2024 here. Also putting some extra holiday money in his scattered backers’ pockets was Squadron Seelster, who sat well off hot fractions then picked up his field late for driver Jack Pelling while returning $69.00.
Normally Sunday would be the end of the racing week at Harrah’s Philly, but the two holiday Tuesdays on th near horizon will also feature live action. This Tuesday, Christmas Eve, December 24, there will be a live card starting at noon, with the USHWA Dan Patch divisional award winners to be announced via the signal broadcast starting around 11:00 a.m. After “regularly-scheduled” cards on Friday the 27th at 12:25 and Sunday the 29th at 12:40, the 2024 Philly action will end on the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, with the races starting at 4 p.m. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – The Uncle Lasse gelding Tarpon Springs S won his initial United States start after being shipped over from Sweden, taking a $12,000 conditioned trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
It was quite chilly in Philly on Sunday, and driver Corey Callahan looked to have ice water in his veins and he stayed along the rail with the favorite when the outside tier formed to go after pacesetting Unique Wedding. Callahan and Tarpon Spring S finally joined the two-wide flow into third-over position, then went three-wide at the three-quarters while appearing to have plenty of trot. Despite being three-deep on the last bend and under minimal urging from his pilot, Tarpon Springs S continued on nicely to overhaul the leader by 1½ lengths at the end of the 1:59 mile for trainer Joe Bongiorno and the partnership of Robert Weinstein, Nicole DiConstanzo, Thomas Svensen, and Nicklas Oestergaard-Andersen.
Callahan had three sulky successes on Sunday, tying him with George Napolitano Jr. for honors in that statistic.
While Tarpon Springs S was one of seven favorites to win Sunday, there were also two $50+ “bombers.” One was a repeat longshot: Gatsby, who parlayed a pocket trip into a $56.00 victory on November 10, took his field coast-to-coast (not the easiest path to victory this day) for amateur driver Steve Reisenweaver to pay $111.00 on Sunday, joining Common Parlance and Captain Hansen as the only horses to return $50+ to win twice in 2024 here. Also putting some extra holiday money in his scattered backers’ pockets was Squadron Seelster, who sat well off hot fractions then picked up his field late for driver Jack Pelling while returning $69.00.
Normally Sunday would be the end of the racing week at Harrah’s Philly, but the two holiday Tuesdays on th near horizon will also feature live action. This Tuesday, Christmas Eve, December 24, there will be a live card starting at noon, with the USHWA Dan Patch divisional award winners to be announced via the signal broadcast starting around 11:00 a.m. After “regularly-scheduled” cards on Friday the 27th at 12:25 and Sunday the 29th at 12:40, the 2024 Philly action will end on the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, with the races starting at 4 p.m. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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