Harrah’s Philadelphia

Holdingallthecards (Tim Tetrick), a 5-year-old gelding pacer, made his debut a winning one for trainer Scott Di Domenico at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday (Oct 8) afternoon. The son of Cam’s Card Shark, who bankrolled over $163,000 as a 4-year-old last season, came into this affair (non-winners of $12,500 in their last 5 starts) off of a sharp qualifier over the Harrah’s Philly oval. He was not sent off as the favorite however. The public backing went to OK Commander (David Miller) who was looking to add to his lifetime earnings of over $615,000. At the start, the favorite laid off the early pace to settle in fourth, while long shot Blended Whiskey (Geo. Napolitano Jr.) left hardest from post eight, by an opening quarter in 26.4. As they neared the half, the leader faced the challenge from a first-over OK Commander, while Holdingallthecards patiently drafted in the pocket. After the 55.1 half, these two battled for the lead in quarter three, which went in 122.3 (27.2). In the stretch, OK Commander wore down the leader, but could not hold off Holdingallthecards, who stormed up the inside to win by a length, stopping the clock in 1:51.4. It was his 24th career win out of 70 lifetime starts. He keyed an exacta that paid $11.60, and a trifecta that paid $60.00. He is owned by Bill and Richard McIntyre. The $7.80 winner kick-started a Pick-4 that did not have a winner. A carryover of just over $2,300 will be added to the Thursday Pick-4, which starts in race seven. Post time is 12:40 PM.

Colonial Downs
Colonial DownsPacers Taffy Town and Highland Hellion each won marathon 1-1/4 mile races in their respective late closer series finales to highlight Wednesday (Oct 8) afternoon action at Colonial Downs. Taffy Town scored her third straight win in the $6,350 final of The U Gotta Win One Now series while Highland Hellion went wire-to-wire in the $8,400 Horace Martin & Barbara Perry Memorial Pacing finale. Driver Frank Milby sat fourth throughout with Taffy Town until mid-stretch, when he wore down and caught front-stepping Winonefordoug just before the wire. The 8-year-old Ideal Towne mare crossed 1-3/4 lengths ahead of fast-closing Iemma Machine Baby in 2:25.4. After a fourth place finish to start the fall meet, Taffy Towne swept all three legs of the late closer for trainer Joe C. Mapes. Highland Hellion started out the Martin & Perry Memorial with a pair of fourth place finishes, but as soon as the race distance increased to over a mile in the third and fourth legs, the 6-year-old Mach Three gelding never trailed at any point in the pair. On Wednesday, driver Chuck Perry guided Highland Hellion to fractions of :27.3, :55.1, 1:23.4 and 1:53.3 before crossing in 2:23, two lengths ahead of Rick’s Crossroads in the deep ten horse field. The week prior, trainer Rex Watson’s pacer crossed in 2:23.3. Colonial Downs presents a ten race card Thursday at 1 PM. The track’s annual “Shucktoberfest” cornhole tourney & trackside tailgate is this Saturday in conjunction with the regular race card.

Batavia Downs
Employing her patented late brush after tracking an early speed duel, Bazooka Terror ($4.00) dismantled a field of top distaff pacers in the $8,500 mares Open at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 8) night. Fiftyonefifty (John Cummings Jr.) and Soaring Honey (Dave McNeight III) battled each other hard for a half-mile, each taking a lead through fractions of :27.1 and 56. By the time those two decided to play nice, last week’s winner Infrontigo Hanover (Jim McNeight) came first-over with Dontch Remember (Shawn McDonough) and Bazooka Terror (Kevin Cummings) in tow. Just as Infrontigo Hanover took the lead halfway up the backside, Cummings tipped Bazooka Terror three-deep and paced around the field like they were tied to a post. Once the mare cleared, Cummings put the whip on his shoulder and let his charge close out the race. Bazooka Terror paced away to a devastating six-length wrapped-up victory in 1:53.4. Dontch Remember was second and Mondatta (Mike Caprio) was third. It was the ninth win in 35 starts for Bazooka Terror and pushed her 2014 earnings to $71,307 for owner Leonard Segall. Although the clocking was not a lifetime mark for the 5-year-old daughter of Western Terror, it was the fastest she had ever paced over a half-mile track. Bazooka Terror is trained by James Clouser Jr. Kevin Cummings, John Cummings Jr., Ron Beback Jr. and Shawn McDonough all scored driving doubles on the night.