from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — Maching Me Zilly and Lifetime Trust slugged it out through the stretch of the $17,000 pacing feature for distaffs Wednesday afternoon (June 20) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and in the end the first-over Maching Me Zilly found the reserves to keep her rival at bay late in a lifetime best of 1:52.2.

A daughter of Mach Three driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Scott DiDomenico, Maching Me Zilly came coverless off the second turn, with Lifetime Trust on her tail. Maching Me Zilly could not clear pacesetting Jaye’s A Lady around the far turn, with Lifetime Trust tipping three-deep past mid-turn to launch her bid. But that bid would come up a neck short against the game winner, who is owned by John McGill, Brian Carsey, and the Triple D Stables Inc.

The 2-year-olds made their first pari-mutuel appearance at Harrah’s for 2018. Winning the contest for trotting fillies was Cardinale, a daughter of Cantab Hall–Mississippi Beauty, who made every pole a winning one in 1:59.1 as the chalk. Andy Miller, only nine wins away from 9,000 career victories after visiting Victory Lane three times Wednesday, was in the sulky for trainer/wife Julie Miller. The Andy Miller Stable is co-owner with Willow Oak Ranch and O’Donnell Equine.

Yannick Gingras also had a triple on the card, while Eric Carlson, Andrew McCarthy, and David Miller steered home a pair of winners.

Finishing Lines: The Great Northeast Open Series will gather together trotters and pacing mares on Sunday here, each group competing for $30,000. The trot, an open event, is topped by a formidable pair of females, Ariana G and Broadway Donna, while the mares pace should see Blue Moon Stride and Agent Q getting their fair share of the betting attention.