Chester, PA — The 3-year-old Cantab Hall trotting filly Tabdone won her fourth straight race as she took Thursday’s (July 10) $13,500 feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia, a neck to the good of Inferno DK.
Looped off the gate by her Danish rival, Tabdone continued on to the lead by a :28.1 quarter, stayed in control through mid-race fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.3, and then drew clear a bit late on the turn and into the stretch. Inferno DK fought on gamely in a :28.1 last quarter, but Tabdone got the job done in 1:54.4 for the red-hot pairing of trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer and owner Purple Haze Stables LLC.
Fast-class trotters contested $13,000 in the co-feature, and the well-traveled Tactical Landing gelding Djimon (a Yoruban word for “powerful blood”) continued to live up to his name with his third straight win, tallying in 1:53.3. David Miller sat outside behind an early contested pace past the :27.2 first quarter then moved Djimon to the top, with middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.3 following. Favorite Once In A Lifetime swung wide off cover but could finish no closer than three lengths behind the winner, whom Mark Steacy trains for Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Dale Larson and Stephen Downey.
The first of two $12,000 trots saw the 3-year-old Muscle Hill filly Jersey Slide get her game together in a big way, going wire-to-wire for an easy victory in a lifetime best 1:53.4. Tim Tetrick guided the Jim Campbell trainee for Runthetable Stables. In the other split, the Cantab Hall mare Tracks Of My Tears turned in a lifetime best of 1:55.1 to parry a late move by Jeffery J for trainer Frank Ingrassia and driver Jackie Ingrassia, the latter co-owner with Donna Franchetti.
The meet’s leading driver, Tim Tetrick, had three victories for top honors on the day while Andy and David Miller each had two. Two of Tetrick’s wins were for Jim Campbell, the only doubling trainer.
The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series return to Harrah’s Philly on Friday (July 11) at 12:25 p.m. with the third preliminary round for 3-year-old trotting colts. Earlier Sire Stakes winners Meshuggah and The Fix Is In have drawn in separate divisions, while in the Stallion Series the only two-time winner, Gimlet Hanover, will be joined by six other single-leg winners in the three cuts. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.