Chester, PA — Mr Bluebird won his third straight race on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 4) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, controlling the pace then withstanding favored Resolve To Win to take the $13,000 featured trot in 1:54.1.
A son of Six Pack, Mr Bluebird worked to the lead near the eighth pole from post five, then kept Resolve To Win parked out to a :27.3 first stanza before surrendering the top, only to come clambering back in front of the stands to regain the lead and put up middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:25. Resolve To Win vacated the pocket nearing the top of the stretch and narrowed in some, but Mr Bluebird had enough to keep that foe a half length at bay for driver Johnathan Ahle, trainer Åke Svanstedt, and the partnership of Åke Svanstedt Inc., Little E LLC and Torbjorn Swahn Inc. Mr Bluebird’s career bankroll is now $269,974.
The $11,000 sub-feature for fast-class trotters started with favorites Djimon grabbing the lead and Sinatra De Vie trying to get in front, but the latter made a break nearing the quarter. That left the Tactical Landing gelding Djimon in control of the pace, and he measured off a win over pocket-sitting Somebody Special by a half length in 1:54.2. Trainer Pat Lachance drove the winner of $336,497 for owners Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Dale Larson and Stephen Downey.
Up-and-coming trotters were spotlighted in two $12,000 tests. The faster division saw the sophomore Propulsion filly Dream Weaver Deo make every pole a winning one while stopping the timer in 1:56.3 and winning by 4-1/2 lengths. Troy Beyer drove the winner for trainer Nifty Norman and Deo Volente Farms LLC.
In the other division, the 3-year-old Tactical Landing gelding Clear For Landing was looped out of the gate and parked just past the quarter for the lead, but that was an easier trip than favored Truly Authentic could find from an outer draw and picking her way around gapping rivals. Clear For Landing was clear by 2-1/4 lengths at the end for his third straight win, here in 1:56.4, with Simon Allard driving for trainer Per Engblom and Consus Racing Stable Inc.
No fewer than nine doubles were recorded on the Thursday card at Philly: trainers Scott Di Domenico, Pat Lachance and Annie Stoebe, and drivers Simon Allard, Troy Beyer, Pat Lachance (also doubling in the sulky), Jeremy Morrison, George Napolitano Jr. and meet leader Tim Tetrick.
Friday’s (Sept. 5) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia will be the richest of the season, as the southeast Pennsylvania track hosts four $300,000 Championships for state-sired 2-year-olds. Pacing colt Frantic Hanover and trotting filly Ginger Tree Lex will be looking to add the Championship events to their four preliminary rounds as they swept all of the early action; only 10 freshmen have pulled off that feat in the 23 years such statistics have been kept. A win for Frantic Hanover would also make him the richest single-season Pennsylvania Sire Stakes performer regardless of division, as his PASS money for 2025 would grow to $288,564.
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