Pretty soon the new crop of 2-year-olds will become the focus of the preparatory session throughout North America, but Tuesday morning’s (May 19) qualifiers at Harrah’s Philadelphia showcased returning horses getting ready to make their mark in 2026.
Tag: Harrah’s Philadelphia
Captain Optimistic in Philly record 1:48.1 in 2026 bow
Captain Optimistic left little doubt that he was ready for top-level competition as he won his 4-year-old debut Sunday (May 17) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:48.1, equaling the track record for pacing horses of his age.
Tetrick takes Thursday Philly features
Tim Tetrick, bidding for his sixth straight driving title at Harrah’s Philadelphia, helped his cause by bringing in three winners, most of any driver on the Thursday (May 14) program, including the feature winners in races for developing horses and fast-class veterans.
UFC star Oliveira steers first pari-mutuel winner
Charles Oliveira, the UFC lightweight division star, won his first pari-mutuel race in North America on Sunday (May 10) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, guiding Ben Solo to a front-end victory in 1:51.2, just a tick off the pacer’s lifetime mark despite coming off of a scratch.
Tetrick wins five Philly Qs; 3-year-olds impress
As has been the case overall for the last couple of years, Tim Tetrick had the hot driving hands at Harrah’s Philadelphia during the Tuesday morning (May 5) qualifying session, bringing home five of the nine winners.
Tetrick has four Philly wins, including TH Colby in feature
On the way to increasing his lead in the Harrah’s Philadelphia drivers derby by winning four races Sunday (May 3), Tim Tetrick had a natural hat trick, the middle race of which was a 1:51.4 victory with the Papi Rob Hanover gelding TH Colby in the $13,500 featured pace for developing males.
Cleary with four Philly ‘Q’ winners
Trainer Robert Cleary saw four of his promising 3-year-old pacers, two colts and two fillies, post victories on the Tuesday morning (April 28) qualifying program at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Loua Dipa, PASS kick off 2026 campaigns Friday at Philly
Some of the brightest stars in the Pennsylvania-sired firmament will be shining at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Friday (May 1) as the 2026 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series programs make their 2026 statewide debuts.
Heaven Needs Me in Philly feature; Bongiorno stays hot
The Captain Midnight gelding Heaven Needs Me did something on Sunday (April 26) that few other winners at Harrah’s Philadelphia do – he came from dead last to take the $13,500 featured pace for developing horses in 1:52.4.
A Thursday of speed and upsets at Philly
The Thursday afternoon (April 23) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia was full of both fast winning times and mutuel upsets led by Dame Good Time’s 1:51.4 victory in the $13,000 trotting feature.