Chester, PA — After an epic last-quarter duel, the Always B Miki gelding Joemikiyoursofine got the better of favored Christopher Dance N by a neck in 1:50.1 to capture the $16,000 fast-class pacing feature Sunday afternoon (Oct. 25) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Joemikiyoursofine, driven by George Napolitano Jr. for trainer Christopher Choate and owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies, left hard and secured the early lead in :26.2, then went on to a :54.4 clocking at the half-mile marker. Christopher Dance N went his own third quarter in :26.3 raw to move up to challenging position by the 1:22 three quarters, and there was very little difference between the two from mid-turn to the wire.
At one point coming off the last curve, it looked like Christopher Dance N might have enjoyed a small lead, but Joemikiyoursofine proved to be a very tough customer and dug in to have a neck margin at the wire, with the big end of the purse running his lifetime earnings to $403,285.
The Scottish-bred Tom Hill gelding Moneyhill GB was successful in the $13,000 fast-class sub-feature pace, making every pole a winning one as he lowered his mark to 1:51.1 with back fractions of :55.2 – :27.3. Johnathan Ahle was in the sulky for trainer Robert Cleary and Haughfield Racing as Moneyhill GB was 2-1/2 lengths clear at the finish.
The top-billed event for developing horses was a $13,500 pace for males won by another son of Always B Miki, the sophomore gelding Highland B Best, who equaled his lifetime best of 1:50.4. A pair of :27 back quarters enabled the pacesetter to dash clear by 4-1/2 lengths for Team Beyer, driver Troy and trainer Katie, and Highland Thoroughbred Farm.
Several doubles were recorded by drivers on the Sunday card: by Johnathan Ahle, Mark Herschberger, George Napolitano Jr., and Art Stafford Jr. But the real statistical tale was played out at the top of the seasonal standings: Simon Allard guided his 114th winner of the meet, putting him ahead of Tim Tetrick by one, while on the training side Joe Bongiorno and Dean Eckley entered the day tied for the lead at 41 and ended the afternoon tied at 42 after having each sent out a winner.
Thursday’s (Oct. 29) racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia begins the Liberty Bell stakes series for Pennsylvania-sired 2- and 3-year-olds, with freshman males each going in one division: the pacers for $62,200, the trotters for $45,000. The day afterward, Harrah’s will have its first post at 2 p.m. as the Breeders Cup Championships for runners has the first of its two-day extravaganza. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.