Top trotters to compete in Maxie Lee Memorial
May 27, 2016,by Mike Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — The 12th race on a power-packed program at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Sunday (May 29) is named after long time horsemen Maxie Lee.
A native of North Carolina, Lee made a name for himself as a trainer and driver in the Philadelphia area at Liberty Bell and Brandywine. He had back-to-back Delaware Valley Harness Horse of the Year winners in the mid-1970s with Black Gamecock and Valley Ken.
Maxie Lee died in 2001 at the age of 70. Maxie’s son Greg Lee makes the trip every year from North Carolina to present the trophy to the Maxie Lee Memorial winner and this year will be no different.
In 1990, Maxie Lee became the first African-American with a starter in the Hambletonian, with the Peter Haughton winner Backstreet Guy. One of Greg’s finest moments with his father was at the Little Brown Jug in 1991, when Maxie’s charge Nuke Skywalker was runner-up to Precious Bunny in the final. “My father said, come September, they will know who this horse is. In the Little Brown Jug, we’re going to give them a fit.”
The 2016 edition of the Maxie Lee Memorial features a very deep, talented field, led by Bee A Magician. The Nifty Norman trainee has won just about every award imaginable, as she continues on her trek to the $4 million mark in career earnings. She is making her fourth start of the year, and is coming off of an impressive tune-up at Yonkers, winning in 1:54.1 from post seven versus open company.
The second-leading money earner in the field is Solveig’s Racing Partner’s Shake It Cerry. A Dan Patch award winner at ages 2 and 3, the now 5-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover comes into this event off of a sharp qualifier at The Meadowlands in 1:52.4 (last quarter:26.3).
“I was really happy with the way she qualified,” said regular driver David Miller. “She didn’t race good in the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff. They looked at her and she was sick with an infection. They gave her some time.”
When asked about her chances in the Maxie Lee, Miller responded, “I like her spot. I think the race will set up good for her.”
The race also includes 2015 Older Trotting Horse of the Year JL Cruze. The 5-year-old son of Crazed rebounded well from a disappointing effort in the Elitlopp Playoff at The Big M with an easy win over the Harrah’s oval last start.
The complete field is listed below.
$200,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1-Obrigado-Mark MacDonald-Paul Kelley-5-1
2-Wind Of The North-George Napolitano Jr.-Daryl Bier-12-1
3-Gural Hanover-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-20-1
4-JL Cruze-Corey Callahan-Eric Ell-7-2
5-Il Sogno Dream-Scott Zeron-Chris Beaver-7-1
6-Shake It Cerry-David Miller-Jimmy Takter-5-1
7-Bee A Magician-Brian Sears-R. Nifty Norman-5-2
8-Maestro Blue Chip-Tim Tetrick-Jo Ann Looney-King-8-1
There is a six-hour detention for the three big races (Maxie Lee, Betsy Ross, and The Dorothy Mullin).
The Riverview Terrace will be open for lunch from 12-4 p.m. For reservations, call 484.490.2222 or 610.874.5200. It will be Family Fun Day, with face painters, balloon artists, and many more activities for the kids. There will also be a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool, which will encompass races nine-12 and include the invitational races.
- Harrah’s Philadelphia will host a powerful racing card on Sunday (Sunday, May 22, 2016)
Harrah’s Philadelphia will host a power-packed racing program on Sunday (May 29) with a post time of 12:40 p.m.
- Wiggle It Jiggleit leads field in Dorothy Mullin Invitational at Harrah’s Philadelphia (Tuesday, May 24, 2016)
It could be the start of a rivalry in the older pacing ranks, as reigning Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit will once again square off against Rockin Ron in the $200,000 Dorothy Mullin Invitational Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Sunday (May 29).
- Remembering Dorothy Mullin (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)
Returning Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit is one of the big names racing Sunday on a star-filled card at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but for longtime horseman Bill “Moon” Mullin and his family, the name attached to Wiggle It Jiggleit’s race is what will truly make the afternoon special. A little over a month ago Mullin was told by the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association and Harrah’s Philadelphia that Sunday’s $200,000 free-for-all pace would be called the Dorothy “Moon” Mullin Invitational Pace in honor of his late mother.
- Trio of million dollar mares lead Betsy Ross field (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)
The 2016 edition of The Betsy Ross at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (May 29) is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races on the star-studded 14-race program that includes The Maxie Lee Memorial Trot, The Dorothy Mullin Invitational Pace, an Open Pace, and two winner’s over events.
- Dittmar seeks Maxie Lee double with JL Cruze (Thursday, May 26, 2016)
When horse owner Bill Dittmar Jr. visited the winner’s circle with Anders Bluestone following the 2011 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational, it seemed like the moment of a lifetime. On Sunday afternoon, he returns to the same event at Harrah’s Philadelphia with what seems like the horse of a lifetime. Dittmar is among the owners of JL Cruze, who last year won 16 of 21 races, set numerous world records, and received a Dan Patch Award as harness racing’s best older male trotter. JL Cruze is part of a star-packed 2016 edition of the $200,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational for older trotters.
- Red-hot Katie Said is out for Betsy Ross glory (Friday, May 27, 2016)
Like most horses, Katie Said is referred to by another moniker than the one assigned to her by registration papers and while it initially may not appear to be complimentary, as it refers to the most iconic horror figure in pop culture for the last century, oddly enough it sums up how she has been performing early in her 2016 campaign: like a monster.