by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Owner Howard Taylor hopes Economy Terror can return to be a feared force among female pacers this season.

The 4-year-old Economy Terror is among eight horses in Sunday’s $250,000 Betsy Ross Mares Invitational at Harrah’s Philadelphia. The field includes Anndrovette, who was voted harness racing’s best older female pacer in 2011 and 2012, as well as defending champion Royal Cee Cee N.

Sunday’s 14-race card, which begins at 12:40 p.m., also includes the $250,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational for older trotters. The Betsy Ross is race 10; the Maxie Lee race 12.

Economy Terror was named the sport’s best 2-year-old filly pacer in 2011 when she won eight of 11 races, earned $926,520 and became the fastest 2-year-old filly ever on a five-eighths-mile track by capturing the Three Diamonds Stakes with a 1:50.3 mile at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Lisa photo

Economy Terror has banked more than $1.37 million in her career.

Last year, Economy Terror won five of 15 races, including the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, and earned $438,040. She finished the season No. 5 on the money list for 3-year-old filly pacers, but had only one victory outside of the sire stakes circuit.

“It was a financially successful year, but it wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for,” said Taylor, an attorney and restaurateur from Philadelphia. “I’m hoping she steps up and regains the stature she had at (age) 2. She’s a thrill to own. She’s a great mare and maybe a little underappreciated in her career.”

Taylor shares ownership of Economy Terror with Phoenixville’s Edwin Gold and Archbald’s Chuck Pompey. She is trained by Chris Oakes and starts the Betsy Ross from post No. 1 with driver Matt Kakaley. She is winless in two starts this season, but is coming off a second-place finish to Betsy Ross contender Feeling You in the preferred on May 19 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Taylor, who added that Economy Terror tied up in her first start this year, a fourth-place finish in the preferred. “It should be a great race. It shapes up as a real chess match.

“(Post one) is not an ideal post, but she can get off the gate pretty good. Hopefully she can settle in second or third and let them go at it.”

Taylor, who won the Maxie Lee twice with Buck I St Pat, is looking for his first win in the Betsy Ross.

“I’ve had horses in the race a couple times, but never went in feeling comfortable that I had a chance to win it,” Taylor said. “This time, I do.”

He’s Spooky, owned by Taylor, Lincoln University’s L.A. Express Stable, Wilmington’s Rojan Stables and New York’s Allen Kaplan, is among the eight trotters in the Maxie Lee. He’s Spooky has won five of 16 races this year and earned $83,270. The 6-year-old horse has 18 career wins and $349,424 in purses.

“He’s a nice horse, but a notch below the top ones,” Taylor said. “Anything can happen in a horse race, especially with a lot of speed outside. If they mix it up and come back to him he could get a piece of it.”

The Maxie Lee field includes Sevruga, who is coming off a win in the Cutler Memorial on May 18 at the Meadowlands, and multiple-stakes-winners Wishing Stone and Uncle Peter.

Following is the Betsy Ross field in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Economy Terror, Matt Kakaley, Chris Oakes; 2. Drop The Ball, Corey Callahan, Ross Croghan; 3. Marie’s Z Tam, George Brennan, Gilbert Garcia-Herrera; 4. Romantic Moment, David Miller, Jimmy Takter; 5. Anndrovette, Tim Tetrick, P.J. Fraley; 6. Rocklamation, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke; 7. Feeling You, Tyler Buter, Amber Buter; 8. Royal Cee Cee N, Ron Pierce, Mark Harder.

Following is the Maxie Lee field in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Ice Machine, Corey Callahan, Walter Carroll; 2. Uncle Peter, David Miller, Jimmy Takter; 3. Blacktuxwhitesocks, George Brennan, Trond Smedshammer; 4. He’s Spooky, Eric Carlson, Michael Hall; 5. Wishing Stone, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke; 6. Opening Night, John Campbell, Jim Campbell; 7. Sevruga, Andy Miller, Julie Miller; 8. Modern Family, Tim Tetrick, Daryl Bier.