Chester, PA — The French-Canadian juggernaut of driver Daniel Dubé, trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination came blasting through Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 10) with the Captaintreacherous sophomore colt Calicojack Hanover winning the $13,500 handicap pacing feature in 1:51.4.
After finishing fourth behind Mirage Hanover, Nijinsky and Captain Albano, Calicojack Hanover was bet down to heavy favoritism and Dubé drove him that way, moving him to the lead past a :26.4 quarter and getting a breather to the half in :56.2. From there ,the pacer sped home in :55.2 to leave his opposition well behind him, with Dubé asking little of the 3-year-old late.
An $11,000 co-feature went to Contact Zone, a son of Bettor’s Delight who paced his own last half in :55.1 to succeed in 1:52.2 for trainer Izzy Estrada and Estrada Racing LLC. David Miller worked out a two-hole journey then moved Contact Zone into the inside passing zone, where he produced a bit more pace then the first-over favorite, Braeview Bondi A, winning by a neck.
And then there were the long shots.
Gatsby paid $56.00 in the second race, and Ginger Tree Liz paid $51.00 in the sixth as trainer Chris Temming tied for the meet lead with Joe Eisenhower Sr. with his second “bomber” of the season.
But they were the opening acts for the Badlands Hanover colt Boris Badenov, who closed strongly to catch Steam Play and Captain Fear and break his maiden while returning $201.00, biggest win payoff of the local year. Driver Jack Pelling now has had three of the last five “bombers” at Philly and is tied at three with Troy Beyer for the meet lead in horses paying at least $50 to win.
David Miller topped all horsemen with three winners Sunday, giving him eight for the week at Philly.
Harrah’s Philly will be racing this week and next on Thursday and Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.; Thursday’s (Nov. 14) card will feature a $705.31 Pick-5 (races 5-9) carryover. On Thanksgiving week, Philly will be dark for live racing on Thursday and Friday, resuming on Sunday, Dec. 1. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.