Chester, PA — The Perfect Sting gelding Everlast Sting Deo reduced his mark to 1:50.1 despite having to go first-over, winning the $13,500 feature pace for developing males on Sunday afternoon (June 28) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Mark Herschberger sat third with Everlast Sting Deo behind early numbers of :27.1 and :55.2, then came with his horse raw down the back and went their own third split in :27.3 to be head-and-head with pacesetter Moneyhill GB at the 1:23.3 three quarters. Pocketsitter Easy Breeze made it a three-way battle through the lane, but the victorious son of Perfect Sting summoned a :26.3 last quarter to be a length clear of Easy Breeze at the wire, with Moneyhill GB just another neck off in the money. Everlast Sting Deo is trained by Travis Alexander for Morrison Racing Stables.
There were two $12,000 divisions of the class just below the top one for pacing males. The faster was the 1:50.3 recorded by the Papi Rob Hanover gelding PA Luke, a Breeders Crown finalist last year who has now won two straight. An early mover to command, PA Luke was not threatened late for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Robert Cleary, and Celtic Racing.
Twist Of Lemon also set a new speed record when he took the other section in 1:52.4. A Captain Crunch colt driven by Johnathan Ahle for trainer Jeffrey Smith and owner Jeffrey Webster, Twist Of Lemon followed cover then went on to challenge that clearing cover, making the lead then holding off the horse on his back, Lou’s Rodeo, by a nose.
Quickest mile of the day came from the fast-class handicap pacers in a $13,000 race, with Best Chip leaving little doubt who was best Sunday as he streaked to a new mark of 1:48.3. Tim Tetrick made two speed moves with the son of Heston Blue Chip in front fractions of :27.2, :55.1 and 1:22.2, then tapped the pacer on the far turn, and he smoked home in :26.1 without too much apparent exertion; Young Bluey A and Wish You Well gave game but futile chase in finishing second and third, respectively. The late-bloomer has a record of 6-4-2-0-$41,535 since joining up with trainer Joe Bongiorno and El Dorado Stables two months ago.
Tetrick, the meet’s leading driver, put up 8-5-1-1 in his Philly sulky action Sunday. Doublers included Herschberger and amateur driver William Clark Jr., who trains both his sulky successes, joining Alexander and Howard Birney as multiple conditioning winners.
Racing resumes at Harrah’s Philly on “Trottin’ Thursday” (July 2) at 12:25 p.m., with Ari Ferrari J going for his third in a row in the $16,000 fast-class handicap feature; if he is to do so, he’ll have to overcome the outermost starting slot for the third straight outing. There will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 wager. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.