by Mike Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — The state of Pennsylvania’s star 2-year-old pacers and trotters were in action on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 11) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. They were competing for purses that totaled more than $1.2 million, with the finals going for $252,000 each.
In the 2-year-old filly trotting division championship, John Butenschoen trainee Fine Tuned Lady went down the road for owners William Wiswell and M &L of Delaware Inc. The daughter of Cantab Hall-Poster Princess set fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.2 before completing the mile three parts of a length better than race-favorite Can’t I (John Campbell) in 1:55.3. Temple Ruins (Yannick Gingras) rallied on for third.
It was the third win of the season for Fine Tuned Lady (Corey Callahan), boosting her career earnings to $201,340.
In the consolation for 2-year-old filly trotters, it was Fashion Farms’ Donato Fashion (Tim Tetrick) scoring a huge upset to take the $50,000 affair. The daughter of Donato Hanover-Fashion Feline drafted behind live cover before taking aim in the stretch to win in 1:57.1. It was the first career win for the Jim Campbell trainee. She returned $48.40 to win.
The Butenshoen/Callahan connection struck again in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trotting championship as Giveitgasandgo lived up to his name. The son of Yankee Glide-Mazda Hanover powered to the front end just past the quarter and led every step after. The fractions were :28.1, :56.4, and 1:26.1. The Butenchoen trainee was able to hold off the upset bid of the pocket-sitter Moonshiner Hanover (Scott Zeron) to win by a head in 1:56. Affair Of Honor (Tim Tetrick) finished third.
It was the sixth career win in eight starts for the talented freshman trotter. He as now bankrolled $218,190 in his career. He is owned by Harmony Oaks Racing, David J. Miller, Lawrence Means and VIP Internet Stables.
Perhaps the show stealing performance of the card, however, occurred in the 2-year-old colt and gelding consolation. Todd Rooney and Kim Farmer’s Don Dream (David Miller) set a track record for 2-year-old colt trotters in a stunning display. Taking command off the wings, Don Dream (Donato Hanover-Gabbys Dream) rated the half in :58.4, before trotting the back half in :56.3 to stop the clock in 1:55.2, breaking a nine-year-old track record. The previous mark of 1:55.3 was held by Lear Jetta and accomplished in 2007.
The 2-year-old filly pacing championship saw Aaron Lambert trainee Agent Q (David Miller) avenge her two straight losses to race favorite Idyllic Beach (Yannick Gingras). The daughter of Western Terror-Teenage Paige had to brush after longshot Someomensomewhere (Marcus Miller) found the front early. Agent Q was immediately challenged by Idyllic Beach, releasing her before the half. At the top of the stretch, Agent Q took aim and powered by for a 2-1/4 length win, stopping the clock in 1:52.
It was the third career win for Agent Q, as she boosted her bankroll to $280,671. She is owned by Martin Scharf, Robert Muscara and Bill and Tanya Rochetti.
The freshman filly pace consolation went to a grinding Gotthisone Hanover (Yannick Gingras). The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Go On BB was able to hold off the fast-closing favorite Miss Jones (David Miller) to win for the first time in 1:54.1. She is owned by Burke Racing, Frank Baldachino, Aws Stables, and Weaver Bruscemi.
The 2-year-old colt and gelding pacing championship was taken in front-end fashion by Ray Schnittker trainee Huntsville (Tim Tetrick). The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Wild West Show brushed past early leader and eventual second place finisher Downbytheseaside (Matt Kakaley) and was able to hold off a host of challenges to win in 1:51.1. Race favorite Fear The Dragon (David Miller) settled for show.
It was the third win of Huntsville‘s career, vaulting his lifetime earnings to $227,484. He is owned by Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Steve Arnold.
The consolation for the freshman colt and gelding pacers went to R J P (Marcus Miller). The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Vysoke Tatry was able to work out a cover trip after tucking early. He swept by in the stretch to win by a little less than a length, holding off the 80-1 longshot Bellows Binge in a furious stretch drive. It was his first career win. R J P is owned by Dave and John Prushnok, David J. Miller and Lawrence Means. He is trained by Erv Miller.