Chester, PA – The Stay Hungry filly Staying At Tony’s produced a string of “’1”’s on her chartline in Friday’s (May 8) $12,000 featured pace for females at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Monday, including a “1” at the most position call, the finish, where the even money favorite led the 3-2 second choice She’s A Rich Girl by a neck in 1:53.2.
Driver Andrew McCarthy, in a cameo appearance, never relinquished control after starting from the pole with the winner, getting She’s A Rich Girl, the only other fast starter, to accept the two-hole in moderate early fractions of :28.4 and :58.1. The price of pacing went up to the three-quarters in 1:25.2, but Staying At Tony’s still had enough in the tank to hold off the potential pocket rocket for trainer Tony Alagna, whose Alagna Racing LLC co-owns the winner with Brad Grant.
The JK Endofanera mare Heart Song had all the right answers to win the $10,000 fast-class handicap pace for females in 1:52.3. Driver Troy Beyer was three-wide fully to a :26.3 opening quarter before getting the lead, then went on to post middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:23.3 before reaching the wire 1-1/4 lengths ahead of pocketsitting Cheesey Lady for trainer-owner Josue Garcia.
Trainer Chuck Crissman Jr., on a hot streak since recently starting to bring horses from Delaware to Philly had the day’s only training double, but a good number of drivers got an extra credit for their sulky successes. Simon Allard had three winners, and victorious twice were Mark Herschberger, Joe Bongiorno, and Troy Beyer, as they solidified spots two through five respectively behind meet leader Tim Tetrick.
Also deserving an additional plaudit was Beyer, who won with Rocknroll Caroline, who paid $86.00 and brought the tally in the Philly 2026 $50+ Winners Derby to Beyer three, The Rest Of The World two. Further, driver Marcus Niklasson, a 33-year-old native of Sweden, posted his first victory in the United States behind Drambuie Hanover.
Where to start in describing the many Mothers Day activities to be held during Sunday’s (May 10) 12:40 p.m., card? UFC lightweight star Charles Oliveira, after missing a note in his North America sulky debut at Pocono on Tuesday (May 5), is listed for five catch-drives during the card (his Brazilian countrymate Josias Santos was third in a race on Friday at Philly). Barbeque and other food and drink specials will be available in the Beer Garden, Family fun will abound, with facepainters and other artists being joined by an Elvis impersonator. And for the bettors, there will be plenty of high-class action for male pacers, in addition to carryovers into the first race Pick 4 and the seventh race Pick 3. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.