Chester, PA – The 3-year-old filly Asphalt took on older foes in the $14,000 fast-class handicap pace for pacing females on Friday afternoon (Sept. 26) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and although taking a while to gain command, the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover left no doubt of her superiority with a 1:50.3 victory.
Jack Pelling got Asphalt away outside in third as Pressure Cooker took over early command from Remy Brown N, and when the latter kept the hole closed behind the leader, Asphalt got into the front-end mix past the :26.2 quarter and made the lead under the wire the first-time – but soon found the pesky Remy Brown N outside of her, forcing her to go to the half in :55 and the three-quarters in 1:22.3 before the first-over faded.
Pressure Cooker, after enjoying a fine journey before the duelers, took her shot in the stretch and raced well, but the sophomore enjoyed a length advantage at the wire. Jack’s father Brett trains the 7-for-12 seasonal winner for owner Margaret Dey.
There was a pair of $12,000 co-features for up-and-coming horses. The contest for pacing distaffs went to the In The Arsenal filly Neil’s Diamond, who took a lifetime mark of 1:52.3 despite a tough two-move trip. Simon Allard got the 3-year-old to the lead with an uncovered move around the far turn, and the pair held off late-closing favorite Pirate Princess, who was hindered by traffic woes, by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Jeffrey Smith and the partnership of Joseph Jannuzzelli and Steven and Joseph Williams.
In the trotting co-feature, I’m Early Hanover, winner of three of his last five, darted out to command, but Clear For Landing, winner of three straight before miscuing last time, soon went up to challenge, and the latter took over just past quarter. This pair went 1-2 around the racetrack, with the Tactical Landing sophomore gelding Clear For Landing unthreatened in the lane while reducing his mark to 1:55.2. Simon Allard completed a sweep of the co-features with the victory for trainer Per Engblom and Consus Racing Stable Inc.
The feature-winning drivers, Allard and Pelling, also were the day’s big wins in total number of victories with three each.
Harrah’s Philly will stage a live 12:40 p.m., card on Sunday (Sept. 28), featuring racing for all manner of upper-class pacing males. After that program, the track will go dark for live racing until Friday, October 10, so that the track racing surface may receive some refurbishment; simulcasting will be open at the southeast Pennsylvania oval during the “dark” period. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.