Field set for Commodore Barry at Harrah’s Philadelphia
May 20, 2018,by Michael Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — The final field is set for the Commodore Barry Invitational for older pacers which will take place on a stakes-laden card Sunday (May 27) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. The purse is $150,000.
Among the participants are 2017 Breeders Crown Winner Beckham’s Z Tam. The 4-year-old son of Always A Virgin closed sharply in his seasonal debut at Hoosier Park. Trainer Jamie Macomber won multiple Post Time Awards, including Horsewoman of the Year. Beckham’s Z Tam won the Upset of the Year Award for his surprise win in the Breeders Crown as a 3-year-old.
There are two double millionaires confirmed as well in Mach It So and McWicked.
An 8-year-old gelding by Mach Three, Mach It So earned more than $750,000 a year ago with wins in the William Haughton Memorial and the TVG Series final. This season the world champion has won two of five George Morton Levy preliminaries with a solid fourth place finish in the final.
McWicked finished his 2017 campaign with second place finishes in the Breeders Crown eliminations and final in addition to the TVG Series final behind Mach It So. The Casie Coleman-trainee is a Dan Patch and O’Brien Award-winner as well as a world champion.
Filibuster Hanover is a top competitor for Ron Burke. The 4-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere had a solid campaign at age 3, which was topped by his win in the Little Brown Jug over Fear The Dragon and Downbytheseaside.
Another 4-year-old in the event is Western Joe. The Chris Choate-trainee, like Filibuster Hanover, won his elimination for the Confederation Cup at Flamboro in his latest race. Western Joe has come into his own at age 4, winning 7 races and just under $100,000.
The field also includes the always dangerousRockeyed Optimist. The well-managed 7-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Hanoverpaced one of the fastest miles (1:48.3) here last season, and is riding a solidform cycle with a win and a near-miss against multiple stakes winner Rockin Ronin his last two races.
The final two confirmed for the Commodore Barry include stateside newcomer Heaven Rocks A and the red-hot Rodeo Romeo. Heaven Rocks A is 6-year-old Australian-bred who is most noted for competing against superstar pacers Lennytheshark and Lazarus. His North American debut occurred at Harrah’s Philadelphia, where he came up a nose short against Rodeo Romeo in a swift 1:49.4. Rodeo Romeo has won four of his last five races against top invitational competition, with each of those wins going in 1:50 or faster.
The all-star card will also feature the $150,000 Maxie Lee for trotters and the $150,000 Betsy Ross for older pacing mares.
The Great Northeast Pacing and Trotting Series will also continue on that Sunday with three events. One for male pacers, one for female pacers and another for trotters. Those races will go for a purse of $30,000 each.
The card will also include Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races for 3-year-old filly trotters and pacers and a non-winners of $10,000 in their last five starts contested at the special distance of five-eighths of a mile.
The draw for the Betsy Ross, Maxie Lee and the Commodore Barry will be shown live via Post Time with Mike and Mike’s Facebook page on Tuesday (May 22) at approximately 11:30 a.m. EST.
Reservations are now being accepted for the Riverview Terrace for Sunday (May 27). Please call 484.490.2222 or 610.874.5200. Post time is 12:40 p.m. EST.
- Caviart Ally looks to step up in Betsy Ross (Friday, May 25, 2018)
Trainer Noel Daley does not seem too concerned about Caviart Ally making the jump to racing older horses, and feels his confidence will be proven as the year goes on. After winning her first two starts this year, she faces the first stakes-level race of her 4-year-old season Sunday in the $150,000 Betsy Ross Invitational for older female pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
- Will Take Charge hopes to take charge in Maxie Lee (Friday, May 25, 2018)
Will Take Charge charges into Sunday’s $150,000 Maxie Lee Invitational at Harrah’s Philadelphia off a win in a leg of the Great Northeast Open Series for trotters; a victory that saw the 5-year-old gelding make a four-wide move around the final turn to complete a last-to-first rally after a few missteps at the start of the race.
- Top mares in Betsy Ross at Harrah’s Philadelphia (Friday, May 25, 2018)
The Betsy Ross Invitational for mares at Harrah’s Philadelphia is known for featuring some of the sport’s finest distaffers each year, and the 2018 edition coming up Sunday (May 27) will be no exception.