by Mike Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — The Betsy Ross Invitational for mares at Harrah’s Philadelphia is known for featuring some of the sport’s finest distaffers each year, and the 2018 edition coming up Sunday (May 27) will be no exception.

Leading the charge in overall accomplishments is three-time Dan Patch Award winner Pure Country. The multiple stakes winner is making her 50th career start, sporting a robust bankroll of more than $2.2 million and 25 lifetime wins. The 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere is making her third start of the season and seeking her first win of the campaign. The Jimmy Takter trainee has been competing in the Great Northeast Series as of late, finishing second and third in her two starts. She draws post number one and will be driven by Mark MacDonald.

The race features three other millionaire mares, including Agent Q, Darlinonthebeach, and racing’s newest seven digit earner Blue Moon Stride.

Agent Q comes into it riding a four race win streak that dates back to Nov. 4 of last year in a stakes event at Hoosier Park. Her seasonal debut was sharp, rallying from last at the eighth pole to sweep by in a Great Northeast Series race at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono two weeks ago. She followed that up with an in-hand win over this oval in a similar event. The 4-year-old daughter of Western Terror has 15 wins out of 29 starts and a mark of 1:48.4 at The Meadowlands. She draws the winningest post at Harrah’s Philly, number five.

White Birch Farm’s Darlinonthebeach draws post seven for the second straight week. The 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere is making her fourth career start for trainer Nifty Norman, with a win back on May 5 in a Great Northeast Series event at Harrah’s Philly in 1:51.1. She has 18 wins out of 48 starts and a 1:48.1 mark at Red Mile.

Harness racing’s newest millionaire Blue Moon Stride will have to overcome post eight to take the lion’s share. The 5-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover has won two of her last three, including a win over Darlinonthebeach in her last in 1:49.4 over the Harrah’s oval. The Mark Harder trainee has won 16 times in 53 starts with a 1:48.4 mark north of the border at Mohawk.

Jim King Jr. trainee Shartin N has been nearly unbeatable in the late winter/early spring. She’s posted wins in the Blue Chip Matchmaker final at Yonkers and the Chip Noble at Miami Valley, earning $343,975 already this season. The overseas import will be facing a new and tougher group here in the Betsy Ross, but she does draw the second winningest post at Harrah’s Philly, number four.

Jugette champion Caviart Ally has looked impressive so far in her 4-year-old season. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight has shown versatility in her two starts this season, winning on the pace on May 9 and in grinding first-over fashion on May 18. She draws post two for owners Caviart Farms and trainer Noel Daley. She has won 11 times in 36 starts, with earnings of $828,510.

Trainer Jen Bongiorno will send the game Diva’s Image from post three. The 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight has proven in her last two that she can go with the best mares in the business with a second and a third against Darlinonthebeach and Blue Moon Stride.

KDK Standardbred’s Apple Bottom Jeans will start from post position number six. The 5-year-old daughter of Mr Apples earned her invite after winning the Burning Point Series at The Meadowlands after sweeping the preliminaries. She has 18 wins out of 45 starts and is trained by Kevin Switzer.

The Betsy Ross will be the 11th race on the stakes-laden program, going for a purse of $150,000. It is part of a $10,000 guaranteed stakes Pick-4 which starts in race number nine. The Pick-4 always has a low 15 percent takeout. Post time is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).