Chester, PA – Driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Scott Di Domenico combined to sweep the feature events for fast-class horses on “Trottin’ Thursday” (May 7) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning both races by a half-length to get their horses, Benjamin Hanover and B Mo, back on the winning track.
For a horse such as Benjamin Hanover, who won 31 of his first 56 lifetime starts, a recent skein of eight performances without reporting back to Victory Lane was an aberration due to end, and the Sebastian K S gelding got the decision in the $13,000 feature in 1:52.4. Benjamin Hanover, owned by Angela Cornell, was away strongly from the rail to protect the pocket behind Lefties Righties, the second choice who put up numbers of :27.2, :56.3, and 1:24.1, but then the pacesetter was worn down by the favored pocket horse.
The Trixton gelding B Mo, had not won in seven 2026 outings, despite having the lead at the stretch call in four of those races, but on Thursday in the $11,500 fast-class subfeature Tetrick kept the horse rolling after setting fractions of :28.1, :57, and 1:25.3, holding off passing lane charger Diplomacy while taking a lifetime best of 1:54 or owner Ben Robards.
In a $12,000 event for developing diamondgaiters, the Walner mare R Lady W came through after slow early splits of :30 and :59.3, speeding up to a 1:27.1 three-quarters that put her in a position to finish out a neck ahead of Just Teasing in 1:55.2. The four-year-old R Lady W had not won in 560 days, since October 24, 2024, when she won the Massachusetts freshman championship, but she had earned her way with earnings of $111,476 in the interval between victories, taking advantage of “triple eligibility” in the Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kentucky programs, Here she regained winning form for driver Mark Herschberger, trainer Linda Toscano, and lessees M And L DE/Armitage Farm.
Feature-winning drivers Tetrick and Herschberger were the only sulkysitters with multiple victories on the card: meet leader Tetrick came home first five times, and Herschberger, now up to third in the local standings, tallying three times. His fast-class trotters provided Di Domenico the only double in the trainers ranks.
Distaff pacers will headline Friday’s 12:25 racing card, and then Mothers Day Sunday will have an array of attractions: UFC lightweight star Charles Oliveira, who lost his first pari-mutuel driving start on Tuesday at Pocono by a nose, is scheduled to drive five horses as he continues to immerse himself in the sport which he started to enjoy in his native Brazil; there will be promotions centered on the Mothers Day theme; an Elvis impersonator is scheduled to be coming into the building; and yes, there will be fast pacers also for the enjoyment of the patrons at the 12:40 card. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha,org.