by PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — NF Happenstance, the leading money-winner in harness racing on the continent to date this year, added to her bankroll Thursday (April 19) by winning the $22,500 winners-over handicap trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:54.2.
Assigned the outside post in the field of seven, NF Happenstance made the lead before the :28.1 quarter for driver Jack Parker Jr., then rested to the half in :57.3 The victorious daughter of SJ’s Caviar, trained by Carol Jamieson-Parker, had to get to the three-quarters in 1:25.2 to see off the bid of the first-over Jack Vernon. Through the stretch she was chased by the horse riding Jack Vernon’s cover, Rock Of Cashel.
But NF Happenstance showed her determination and held off Rock Of Cashel by a neck, with Jack Vernon another 1-3/4 lengths back in third.
Owner James Moore III now has a mare who has eight wins and three seconds in 13 seasonal starts and is a winner of $140,450 this season.
In the $17,000 co-featured trot, the Holiday Road mare Holiday Promise made it three wins from her last four races, going wire-to-wire. The exacta was completed by Broadway Promise, who was a half-length back at the end of the 1:56 mile.
Tony Morgan handled the sulky duties behind the winner for trainer Josh Green and owners Howard Taylor and Richard Lombardo.