by PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — Checkered Past got the jump on the field and went on to her second straight victory, winning the $17,000 featured distaff pace Wednesday (Aug. 29) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:52.3, equaling the lifetime best she recorded in winning seven days previously.

Driver Andrew McCarthy, a three-time winner on the card, made two speed moves with the sophomore American Ideal filly and had it easy from there, with a five-length lead at headstretch and finishing three lengths ahead. The winner of $137,323 may have the current form to handle the class stepup she will now have to take for trainer Peter Foley and All Star Racing Inc.

The winner of the $16,000 co-feature trot also was victorious for the second straight outing, as the Cantab Hall gelding Scirocco Imsosmart worked to the lead past the quarter and won in 1:55.4 for trainer John Butenschoen and owners Kathleen and Lewis Whitaker Jr. Driver David Miller went McCarthy one better with four sulky successes.

And a full brother to Ariana G who is 4-for-5 to date at three after not starting at two also rates a mention. Trainer Jimmy Takter seems to have the Muscle Hill colt Fleet Admiral finally on track, as he handled the driving duties in bringing the horse home nearly 10 lengths to the good. In matching the two feature winners with two straight wins, Fleet Admiral tied his mark of 1:54.4 for owners Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and the S R F Stable.

FINISHING LINES – Harrah’s Philadelphia will host the $320,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series championships on a special Labor Day card starting at 12:40 p.m.. Freshman trotting filly Southwind Storm will attempt to be only the third horse in the 10-year history of the program to sweep her four prelims and then her championship. She will start from post three in the ninth race. But a word of caution, including ties, nine horses who led their division in the pointstandings are in Monday, and they might note that last year only one divisional pointleader, 3-year-old pacing filly, Freakonomics, went on to take her championship.