Chester, PA — In Todd McCarthy’s first 2026 action at Harrah’s Philadelphia, this past Sunday (April 12), he failed to hit the board in six drives. But on Thursday (April 16), the transplanted Australian made up for lost time, visting the winner’s circle on seven occasions including after both feature races.
The $16,000 fast-class trot saw McCarthy get away in the pocket with the Alarm Detector gelding Indy Be Quick, duck inside for the drive, then just prevail over fellow Dover shipper Arrowhead Hanover while taking a new mark of 1:53. Arrowhead Hanover went a giant mile himself uncovered, but came up a nose shy on the money. Trainer Erin Neilson and owner David Neilson saw their trotter raise his lifetime bankroll to $252,026.
As taxing as Indy Be Quick’s victory was, the win in the $13,500 co-feature trot for McCarthy and Southwind Alamo was just as easy, despite the 3-year-old Tactical Landing colt having to be first-up in his seasonal debut. But the promising sophomore handled the hard journey with aplomb, lowering his speed badge to 1:53.3 for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and the partnership of Coyne & Pachuta Stable, Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney and Mike McAllister.
Driver McCarthy raised his meet UDR up .433 on the day with the seven-bagger, joined with a second and two thirds. He went from tied for last to second in the sulky standings, with Tim Tetrick, trying for his sixth straight Philly crown, doubling to add to his seven wins on the first two cards. The septet also set a 2026 high for Eastern Pennsylvania harness racing, as Brett Beckwith and Tyler Buter have both posted six-win days at Pocono.
There were two trainers on the card with two wins, Ron Coyne Jr. and Per Engblom, and they are the leading trainers at the two Keystone eastside tracks. Coyne tops all other conditioners with three wins in the three days of racing at Philly, and Engblom leads the standings at Pocono.
Friday’s (April 17) 12:25 p.m. card will feature a pair of $12,000 contests for developing horses and an $11,500 fast-class handicap pace for females which will start the card. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.