from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — The Sweet Lou–Well Read freshman pacing filly Sweeter Lulu made a stunning pari-mutuel debut in a contest for 2-year-olds on Friday (June 29) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, coming uncovered from sixth and just motoring on to the wire to stop the timer in 1:53.3, which according to the tabulations would make her the fastest 2-year-old, female or male, on a five-eighths-mile track in North America in 2018.

Stacy Chiodo trains and drove the impressive miss, who paced her own back half in :56, for the Timothy Tobias Stable. The previous 1:53.4f standard was shared by colt Lyons Night Hawk and filly Rose Run Uptowngal.

The Well Said mare Brunhilda was as dominant a figure Friday as her mythological counterpoint was on the battlefield, taking the contest with the biggest purse, a $16,000 pace for fillies and mares in a lifetime best 1:52.

Andrew McCarthy put the developing mare on the lead ahead of Belle’s Delight and cut fractions of :27.2, :55.4, and 1:24, then guided the favorite home in a :28 sprint to hold off the potential pocket rocket by a half-length. Eddie Sager conditions Brunhilda for the Dead Crab Stable.

A $14,500 pace for more seasoned distaffs also fit the “speedy favorite holds off pocket horse” scenario, as the American Ideal mare Kaitlyn N made the top before the :26.3 quarter for driver Art Stafford Jr., posted middle splits of :55.3 and 1:23.3, and then withstood the late charge of Berazzled by a neck in 1:51.3.

Trainer Joshua Parker co-owns Kaitlyn N with Nanticoke Racing Inc. and Barry Spedden. On May 1 and 2, Parker qualified four New Zealand imports, and the quartet have posted a record of 22-13-4-0-.695, missing one check, with Kaitlyn N’s own record now going to 8-6-2-0-$43,500 in her two-month North American racing career.

The meet’s leading driver, Tim Tetrick, had five victories on the day, including the longest shot to come home first Friday, the $52.00 trotter Blue Swan.