Chester, PA – 2019 Harness Horse of the Year Shartin N stuck to her recent off-the-pace tactics in a Thursday morning (June 18) qualifier at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but she still devastated her field in a snappy 1:51 over a good oval.

2019 Horse of the Year Shartin N, here winning last year’s Lady Liberty on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, won her Thursday morning qualifier in 1:51 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Lisa photo.

Driver Tim Tetrick had the daughter of Tintin In America in fourth, five lengths off the lead in a :55.3 half, then turned her loose down the backstretch, and she rocketed up to grab the lead before the three-quarters in 1:23.2, then drew clear by 2-3/4 lengths. The Kiwi import may be approaching a career peak in short order for trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Tim Tetrick LLC.

Most of the other attention during the Philly a.m. session was paid to 2-year-olds, the vast majority of whom were making their first trips behind the gate—and perhaps appropriately on a day when Shartin N raced here, both the trotting and pacing divisions saw a filly post the fastest clocking.

The most impressive winner among the freshmen was Dancethenightaway, a daughter of A Rocknroll Dance – Mikayla Rose who pulled the pocket and gained into :56 – :27.1 back fractions to get up by a head in 1:57.1 over Easy To Please. Trainer/driver Andrew Stafford is also a co-owner along of the fast distaff with Bonnie Benson, John Johannsen and Holly Case.

The other two divisions of the 2-year-old pacing filly events fell to Team Tetrick/King, with both winners kicking home in :27.2 – Sniper Hanover (Captaintreacherous – Snippet Hanover) in 1:58.3 and Lady Newton (Sweet Lou – I’m Sassy) in 2:01.4.

Quickest of the young pacing males was the Roll With Joe – Shawnee Dancer colt Dancing Joe, who came his back half in :56.4 to freeze the timer at 1:58.3 at the finish for driver Tony Morgan and owner/trainer Chris Temming.

Among trotters, the Donato Hanover – Dream Child filly You Ato Dream blasted home in :29 to win her bow in 2:02. Trainer/driver Jeff Gregory is also a co-owner in the promising miss with William Richardson, George Romanoff and Martin Garey.

Success in the events for trotting males went to the Donato Hanover – Fortune Of Fables colt Fifty Ways in 2:03.3 for driver George Dennis and trainer Joe Columbo, along with the Bar Hopping – Up Front Annika gelding Ginger Tree Knox in 2:03.4 and trainer/driver Steve Cook.

Harrah’s Philadelphia will present its first pari-mutuel card of the year this Sunday (June 21) at 12:40 p.m. The other three cards in the normal four-day racing week will be held Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 p.m.