Chester, PA — Rivers rode the pocket and rallied up the inside to catch pacesetting favorite The Fast Lane for a 1:54.4 win in the $13,000 fast-class handicap trotting feature on Thursday (Aug. 1) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Rivers, trained by Shaun Callahan for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, went to the lead early on the first turn under the direction of Corey Callahan, then yielded to The Fast Lane towards the :28.2 quarter and was content to stay in the golden chair through middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.2 with little outer flow to speak of. The victorious Anders Bluestone gelding didn’t even have to go to the open stretch turning for home as The Fast Lane bore out, and the Rivers used his energy to gain into a :28.2 last quarter and defeat The Fast Lane by 1-1/4 lengths. Double millionaire Crystal Fashion came for far back for third, ending his three-race win streak.
Also on the card featuring diagonally-gaited horses were two $12,000 co-features for younger horses.
The 3-year-old Six Pack filly Six Inch Heels moved behind cover up the backstretch, gained wide through the final turn, and defeated favorite Walla by 1-1/4 lengths in a career best 1:55.4 for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Christopher Freck, and owners James Magno and Marita Berglund.
Devastate, a Chapter Seven colt, powered to the front, reeled off fast numbers while clear much of the way, and won by four lengths in 1:53.3, living up to his name for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Nancy Takter, and Diamond Creek Racing.
Corey Callahan, David Miller and Tim Tetrick each had three driving victories.
Square Deal, a winner in half of her 18 starts this season, has been made the early favorite in Friday’s (Aug. 2) $14,000 fast-class distaff handicap pacing feature; several hard-hitting younger females will clash in a $13,500 contest that will be the first event on the 12:25 p.m. program. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.