Chester, PA – “A Tale Of Two Quarters” is perhaps the most apt way to write a story describing the two featured paces for mares at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday (Sept. 11).
In the $16,000 fast-class handicap contest, the Huntsville mare Jensville A started from the outside post eight, and she was kept out to a :26.3 quarter by favored Ballast, sent off at 6-5 to Jensville A’s 8-5. But the second quarter was the one referred to in the first paragraph of this summary, as George Napolitano Jr. was able to get a :30 panel two with the Chris Height trainee, a great breather that helped his charge. Jensville could then produce a pair of :27.2 quarters, and though Ballast got to within three quarters of a length of the winner, she could gain no more in the 1:51.2 mile, as Napolitano appeared to have the margin measured with a minimum of hand urging.
Jensville A took a new mark and her 19th victory in a 50-start career. She is owned by Michael Casalino Jr.
In the $14,000 feature for developing females, Brett Beckwith made two speed moves with Harleequin A to control the throttle in early numbers of :28.2 and :57.3. Then a streak that suddenly appeared in the two-wide lane, the favored Promising Moment, bringing about “the quarter” in this feature, giving her all to make the lead before the far turn. The always-poised Beckwith kept his filly up on the bit and popped the plugs to force his foe to pace a searing third quarter in :25.2, raw from fifth, to attain the front. The huge number did take some sting out of Promising Moment, and Beckwith stayed tight until moving outside for the drive, switch the stick to the left side mainly as a reminder, and won off by 2¼ lengths.
The time of 1:51.4 earned Harleequin A, a daughter of Betting Line, a mark in her second Stateside start. Petter Engblom trains the promising import for Engblom Farm LLC and Hickory Hollow Stable.
Beckwith and Engblom combined again in another race to be two of several horsepeople with two victories on Friday. Other drivers were Art Stafford Jr., George Napolitano Jr., and William Carter; Carter drove the first of an 8-8 Late Double pair of victories for trainer Joe Bongiorno.
The other story of the Friday was, at a track where a favorite is as likely to win a race as not, there were as many first choices winning as last choices in the pari-mutuels, and there were three $50+ winners ($58.00, $67.60, and $64.60)– there have not been four in a day since those records were begun in 2016.
Harrah’s also had a remembrance and short ceremony honoring those who suffered 25 years earlier to the day in the “9-11” tragedy.
Totally changing the mood will be another “Anniversary” to be celebrated during a special 6 p.m. card on Saturday (Sept. 12) – the 20th Anniversary of harness racing at the Harrah’s riverside facility in southeast Pennsylvania. There will be a revival of the Colonial and Colonial Oaks trotting stakes, a #seniditin Invitational pace, plus a DJ on the patio, a beer garden, and visits with nostalgia accumulated over the last two decades. (There will be no racing on Sunday the 13th; the next live Philly card after Saturday will be on Thursday at 12:25.)
Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.