Chester, PA – The Sunday (July 5) faithful at Harrah’s Philadelphia had the two featured paces pegged correctly, as both heavily-backed favorites reported home first – but neither by much of a margin.
The top purse was the $13,500 bounty offered to the up-and-coming males, with the Perfect Sting sophomore gelding Everlast Sting Deo sitting in the pocket behind the fractions of :27.2, :55.4, and 1:23.4 set by Sonofanutcracker, then working by to score by a half-length. Mark Herschberger drove for trainer Travis Alexander and Morrison Racing Stables.
It was even closer at the finish of the $13,000 fast-class pace, as the Rockin Image gelding Saba Rock, dropping out of Graduate Series action, laid down lightning numbers of:26.1, :54, and 1:21, then summoned enough to ward off potential pocket rocket Wedlock Blue Chip by a nose in 1:49, reducing his mark by a tick. Andrew McCarthy drove the Per Engblom trainee for the partnership of Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, and Adam Friedland.
Simon Allard led the local colony on the day with three winners; doubles were recorded by Herschberger and meet leader Tim Tetrick, the latter’s brace coming for the Burke Brigade. Alexander also conditioned a pair of Victory Lane visitors.
In recent weeks, the only obstacle to Ari Ferrari J’s winning the feature on “Trottin’ Thursday” at Philly has been the extreme heat, which caused last Thursday’s card to be canceled. This Thursday, “Ari” goes for his third straight victory in the $16,000 fast-class event, but he’ll have to overcome the outside post 8.
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