by PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — In an unusually competitive race even by the high standards of Harrah’s Philadelphia, the one working out the best trip was the Gotta Go Cullect mare Taketothesky N, who tipped wide to make the lead in midstretch and hold off Skippin By by three-quarters of a length, paying $90.00 to win in the $18,000 distaff pacing feature Friday afternoon (June 15) at the Philadelphia oval.
Eric Carlson had the winner of $101,548 in second-over position behind dueling favorites Jewel Lehigh A and Princess Fabulosa in the :27.1 third quarter, then launched her successful stretch charge to reduce her mark to 1:50.4. The Kiwi import is now perfect in two starts since owner/trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera brought her to Harrah’s.
For fans who follow horses with platinum-quality pedigrees, E L Platinum got her breakthrough victory in her third lifetime start, tucking then going first-over, but still having enough to post a 1:57.3 tally. A sophomore daughter of Muscle Hill and Courtney Hall, a full sister to $1.8 million-earner Cameron Hall, she is a full sister to $702,473 winner EL Titan and a Yankee Glide half-sister to $619,895 winner Appomattox. E L Platinum was driven by Brett Miller for trainer Bob Stewart and Emp Invest Oy, part of the empire of breeder Erkki Laakkonen.