The Friday (Aug. 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Philadelphia, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Plainridge Park and Tioga Downs.

Divine Spirit, Ilana Z Tam score in Philadelphia co-features

Chester, PA — A pair of $16,000 featured events headlined the Friday afternoon racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

In the co-feature for trotters, the Father Patrick gelding Divine Spirit overcame the difficult tuck-then-first-over trip to win in 1:56.3. Remarkable De Vie put up the early fractions of :28 and :58.2. By the 1:26.3 three-quarters Divine Spirit had engaged the leader and soon gained the advantage, and through the stretch the sophomore was able to stay 1-1/2 lengths ahead of gaining favorite Navarone Hanover. Trainer Brett Pelling co-owns the winner with Lindy Farms of Connecticut. For driver Andrew McCarthy, the success was one of six on the afternoon card for him.

In the co-headliner for pacing females, the Bettor’s Delight mare Ilana Z Tam went out to get the pocket behind Ponder The Odds and watched that one put up timer action of :26.4, :56.1, and 1:23.3. At the last-named station Ilana Z Tam engaged in battling favored first-over Tarryn A Strip, then shot up the inside to achieve a simple one length victory over closing Odds On Naples in 1:52.4. Trainer/driver Pat Lachance also shares ownership of the winner with Z Tam Stables.

In a $14,500 pace for fast-class mares, the sharp Roll With Joe mare Queen Lostris N made every pole a winning one to lower her mark to 1:51.2 and spoil the U.S. debut of Imprincessgemma A. George Napolitano Jr. sent the winner of $182,086 right to the front and put up splits of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:23.3. Imprincessgemma A, who got a three-tuck early, had to come first-over, and despite a persistent grind came up a length short. Gilbert Garcia-Owen, the leading trainer at Harrah’s Philadelphia, conditions the winner for Gilbert Garcia-Herrera.

— PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia

Saratoga Casino Hotel

The featured field was reduced to five participants after a scratch on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open featured 1-5 betting favorite Bontz N (Billy Dobson) who went wire-to-wire in her local debut last week while competing in the Winners Over for distaffers. On Friday night, she made her first start in the Open and moved out to the early lead and paced a first quarter in a quick :27. Bontz N continued to cruise quickly on the engine and after reaching the half in :55.4 was met with the challenge of Come Get The Cash (Jay Randall). Come Get The Cash paced a final half of :54.4 last week while coming up just shy of reeling in Bontz N when they squared off for the first time. In Friday’s feature, the power surge from the John MacDonald-trained Come Get The Cash would prove to be more than enough as she overpowered the favorite and drew away in the stretch before stopping the timer in a career-best 1:53.1. Bontz N held strong for second while Surreal Feeling (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. Come Get The Cash paid $9.20 to win in her upset victory and led an exacta with the favorite second that returned $15.40. The win was the fourth of the season in 15 tries for the 4-year-old who has really come into her own in the past few months and now adds Open winner to her resume.

Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:05 p.m. There will be a Pick-5 carryover of $1,384 on Saturday with the Pick-5 beginning in the evening’s first race.

— Mike Sardella

Plainridge Park

Whiskey Lindy got a late start to the season as he didn’t make his first start of 2019 until Aug. 16. But his limited number of starts have all been quality wins including his second straight at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon. In the $12,000 trotting feature for 5-year-olds and younger, Whiskey Lindy (Drew Monti) got away second behind Hs Marcia (Drew Campbell) who led the field to the quarter in :28.1. That lead was short lived as Monti pulled in the front straight and made a power move to take command passing the stands before tapping the brakes to the half in :59.1. Rolling around the second turn, Mad Dog (John Beckwith) came calling on the outside and forced Whiskey Lindy to pick up the tempo and as a result, the third quarter went in :28.1. But then into the turn Mad Dog lost his bite and Hs Marcia lost contact with Whiskey Lindy because the winner shifted gears and was gone. Monti sat chilly as Whiskey Lindy opened up a 2-1/2 length lead coming down the stretch and broke the beam, wrapped-up in 1:56.2. Owned by Greathorse, Whiskey Lindy ($5.40) remained perfect on the year under the tutelage of trainer Domenico Cecere.

Monti and Cecere also teamed up to take the $10,000 trotting co-feature with Ethoca who toured the facility on the front-end from gate-to-wire in 1:58. It was the second straight win and third in the last four starts for Ethoca ($3.20) who is owned by Greathorse, David Anderson and John Fielding.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 2). There will be an $18,297 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 wager in race six. Please note that starting Monday, post time is moved up to 2 p.m. and will remain there through Nov. 1.

— Tim Bojarski

Tioga Downs

Gigi From Fiji easily captured the $11,000 Fillies and Mares Open 1 at Tioga Downs on Friday. K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) led to the first quarter in :26.3. Gigi From Fiji ($4.10) took control as they went by the stands for the first time. She led to the half in :55.2 and to three-quarters in 1:22.4. Gigi From Fiji, who is owned by trainer Mike Deters along with Lawrence Barnett, Joel Warner, and John Spindler, found another gear as they reached the stretch. She would win going away with a seasonal best time of 1:51.1. Persistent Better (Jim Meittinis) came up to finish second. K J’s Caroline was third best. Gigi From Fiji is a 5-year-old mare by Ponder. It was her eighth win this season. She now owns 17 career victories.

Hennessey drove four winners on the night. His other wins came with Check Mach ($3.10), Odds On Cheddar ($5.10), and Tap Tap Tap ($4.90). Hennessey has a commanding lead for the 2019 top driver at Tioga Downs. With just eight live racing dates left he has 112 wins. Last year’s champion Mike Merton is second with 66 tallies. Mike Simons is in third with 40 wins. Fern Paquet Jr. is fourth with 33 trips to the winner’s circle.

The trainer’s title is still wide open. Mike Deters leads with 36 victories. Joe Skowyra is right on his heels with 34 wins. Patti Harmon is in third with 30 triumphs so far this season. Rick Dane Jr. (27) and Jim McDonald (23) round out the top five.

There will be no live racing on Saturday (Aug. 31) due to the Smash Mouth concert. Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (Sept. 1) with an 11-race card starting at 1 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— John Horne