Chester, PA — Full Of Muscles, a Muscle Mass gelding who had last raced at Yonkers on Aug. 6, came back to the races strongly for trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. to win the $16,000 top handicap trot on Thursday (Sept. 24) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in a lifetime best 1:53.
Hey Porter yielded the early lead to the winner, who in turn surrendered the top to favorite Little Expensive towards the :27.1 quarter. The chalk passed the half in :55.3, then had Super Duper Cooper, last week’s winner in this class and assigned the outside in the field of eight, pressure him uncovered to and past a 1:24.3 three-quarters with Full Of Muscles in prime position.
In the stretch, it was the pacesetter and not the grinder who gave way first, but as Super Duper Cooper got a slim lead, driver Trae Porter had Full Of Muscles in high gear quickly, and he out-footed his first-over rival by a length. Full Of Muscles, now a winner of $348,836, is owned by David Linker, Brian Loman and Robert Venable.
The demise of Little Expensive, the even-money favorite who finished fifth, helped cause a superfecta carryover with the first four finishers being Full Of Muscles (18-1), Super Duper Cooper (3-1), Hey Porter (7-1), and Clear For Landing (20-1).
The $13,000 fast-class handicap sub-feature saw Outside The Fire overcome a first-over journey to grind down the pacesetter and keep potential pocket rocket Bright Side Up at bay by 2 lengths in 1:53.2. Johnathan Ahle sat behind the victorious Cantab Hall gelding, whose career earnings are now $490.432, for trainer Enrico Robinson and Pollack Racing LLC.
The 3-year-old Father Patrick filly Misty Blue won her first three starts upon joining the barn of Philly’s leading trainer, Joe Bongiorno, but made a miscue in her last start. All system were back to “go” on Thursday in a $13,500 contest for developing diamond-gaiters, as driver Austin Siegelman put the filly on the lead, got a soft middle half, then sprinted home in :28.2 to stay clear of first-over challenger Captainforlife AS by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1 for El Dorado Stables.
George Napolitano Jr. topped the horsemen’s colony with three driving victories; doubles were turned in by drivers Mark Herschberger, Trae Porter and Austin Siegelman and trainer Enrico Robinson.
Pacing mares will be in the spotlight for the Friday (Sept. 25) card at 12:25 p.m., with a $14,000 feature slotted for the 11th race; the racing week then concludes Sunday (Sept. 27) at 12:40 p.m.. After that, Philly will be dark for live racing the following week; the trotters and pacers at the southeast Pennsylvania oval on Thursday, Oct. 8. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.