By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – Tim Tetrick, bidding for his sixth straight sulky title at Harrah’s Philadelphia, helped his cause by bringing in three winners, most of any driver on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card, including the feature winners in races for the developing horses and the fast-class veterans.
Tetrick’s three-nagger was a natural hat trick, and the middle winner the Bar Hopping gelding Elan Hanover, who took home the big end of the day’s richest purse, $13,500, by winning the headliner for up-and-comers in 1:56.3. Elan Hanover had not won since capturing his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes consolation last September 6, but he rewarded the crowd’s faith in him by making every pole a winning one, defeating a late move by Mamy Wata by a half length for trainer Enrico Robinson and Pollack Racing LLC.
The $12,000 co-feature for the improving youngsters went to the Gimpanzee gelding Verse Nine, who was a maiden at two, did not get back to the races at three, but now has captured his first two starts in 2026, including this Thursday trot in which he set a new mark of 1:55. Patrick Ryder got :27.3 speed from his horse to clear to the lead down the back, and he went on to a 3¼ length victory for trainer/father Chris Ryder, who is also co-owner with Frank Canzone, M3 Racing Stable, and Robert Mondillo.
Tetrick completed his consecutive triple with the Joke Face gelding Ultion Face N, who boosted his lifetime bankroll to $428,973 with a 1:53.2 front-end score in the $13,000 fast-class handicap trot. Ultion Face N took the lead and left B Mo in the pocket, then withstood him by 1¼ lengths for trainer Per Engblom and his Engblom Farm LLC, co-owner with Jesper Arvenberg.
Though a beaten favorite in her first three career starts, it never seemed an impossible dream to find La Mancha in the winners circle, especially considering that the sophomore filly’s father is Walner and her mother is Manchego. Her foes Thursday did not prove unbeatable (the second favorite broke, the chalk set a very quick tempo), and from the pocket La Mancha was able to post a maiden mark of 1:55.1, finishing three quarters of a length ahead of Bar Hall Beauty for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Nancy Takter, and owners Black Horse Racing and Herb Liverman.
Along with driver Tetrick’s three winners, sulkysitting multiples were doubles by Simon Allard, Corey Calllahan, and Andy Miller; Per Engblom had the lone training two-bagger.
Racing returns on Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40 at Philly.. A week from Sunday, the riverside oval will present its Super Sunday extravaganza, with three $100,000 Invitationals plus a leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, and results for these classes will be watched carefully all weekend. Free Philly Pocono pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – Tim Tetrick, bidding for his sixth straight sulky title at Harrah’s Philadelphia, helped his cause by bringing in three winners, most of any driver on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card, including the feature winners in races for the developing horses and the fast-class veterans.
Tetrick’s three-nagger was a natural hat trick, and the middle winner the Bar Hopping gelding Elan Hanover, who took home the big end of the day’s richest purse, $13,500, by winning the headliner for up-and-comers in 1:56.3. Elan Hanover had not won since capturing his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes consolation last September 6, but he rewarded the crowd’s faith in him by making every pole a winning one, defeating a late move by Mamy Wata by a half length for trainer Enrico Robinson and Pollack Racing LLC.
The $12,000 co-feature for the improving youngsters went to the Gimpanzee gelding Verse Nine, who was a maiden at two, did not get back to the races at three, but now has captured his first two starts in 2026, including this Thursday trot in which he set a new mark of 1:55. Patrick Ryder got :27.3 speed from his horse to clear to the lead down the back, and he went on to a 3¼ length victory for trainer/father Chris Ryder, who is also co-owner with Frank Canzone, M3 Racing Stable, and Robert Mondillo.
Tetrick completed his consecutive triple with the Joke Face gelding Ultion Face N, who boosted his lifetime bankroll to $428,973 with a 1:53.2 front-end score in the $13,000 fast-class handicap trot. Ultion Face N took the lead and left B Mo in the pocket, then withstood him by 1¼ lengths for trainer Per Engblom and his Engblom Farm LLC, co-owner with Jesper Arvenberg.
Though a beaten favorite in her first three career starts, it never seemed an impossible dream to find La Mancha in the winners circle, especially considering that the sophomore filly’s father is Walner and her mother is Manchego. Her foes Thursday did not prove unbeatable (the second favorite broke, the chalk set a very quick tempo), and from the pocket La Mancha was able to post a maiden mark of 1:55.1, finishing three quarters of a length ahead of Bar Hall Beauty for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Nancy Takter, and owners Black Horse Racing and Herb Liverman.
Along with driver Tetrick’s three winners, sulkysitting multiples were doubles by Simon Allard, Corey Calllahan, and Andy Miller; Per Engblom had the lone training two-bagger.
Racing returns on Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40 at Philly.. A week from Sunday, the riverside oval will present its Super Sunday extravaganza, with three $100,000 Invitationals plus a leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, and results for these classes will be watched carefully all weekend. Free Philly Pocono pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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