from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — Caviart Ally, one of last season’s top 3-year-old fillies, made a powerful 2018 debut at Harrah’s Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon (May 9), capturing the $17,000 featured distaff pace in 1:50.4, with back fractions of :55 and :27.1.
Andrew McCarthy sent the daughter of Bettor’s Delight to the top early and never looked back, winning by four lengths for trainer Noel Daley and the ownership of Caviart Farms. Last season, Caviart Alley was the straight-heat winner of the Jugette, and also captured the Bluegrass along with two legs and the final of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes; the win Wednesday upped her bankroll to $819,510.
There were a pair of $16,000 co-features, one on both gaits.
In the pace, the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Bunkdunk came up from the Delaware-Maryland circuit and promptly swept by the field late in 1:51.4. A winner of five straight prior to a loss before coming to Philly, Bunkdunk got back on the winning track here, with Anthony Morgan in the sulky for trainer Brian Malone and owner Peter Paul Venturini.
Crystal Fashion showed no problems handling a six-month layoff and a tough two-move trip, taking his trotting rivals with a 2-3/4 length victory in 1:54.2. A Breeders Crown elimination winner before breaking in the final, the Cantab Hall gelding may be one to watch for in the upcoming classics for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim Campbell, and Fashion Farms.