Trio of million dollar mares lead Betsy Ross field
May 25, 2016,by Mike Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — 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.
The Betsy Ross is an invitational event for filly and mare pacers, going for a purse of $200,000. The Philadelphia seamstress is widely credited with making the first American flag in 1776. Last year’s Betsy Ross was the stage for a tremendous stretch duel between winner Radar Contact and Anndrovette, who is a past winner and multiple Dan Patch Award champion.
This year’s edition features three million dollar mares, the first of which, Yagonnakissmeornot, drew post number one. The 7-year-old daughter of The Panderosa is the leading money earner in the field, with career earnings just shy of $1.4 million. The Rene Allard trainee had a very impressive month of April, winning two legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and then the final at Yonkers. If she were to win on Sunday, it would be the 40th of her career.
The 2015 Jugette winner Sassa Hanover drew post two. She has also earned $1 million in her career in just 42 lifetime starts. She is coming into Sunday’s race off three straight second place finishes, including a loss to Devil Child in her last race. Devil Child will start from post four in this event.
Color’s A Virgin is the third millionaire mare in the group. The 2014 Jugette winner is looking for her first win of the season in her fourth start. Her last win came in the 2015 Breeders Crown, where she was able to fight off Sandbetweenurtoes (entered in a winner’s over for mares on Sunday’s program) and Venus Delight (2015 Blue Chip Matchmaker winner), who is starting from post three in this event.
The most formful mare in the field right now may be Black Horse Racing’s Katie Said. The 5-year-old daughter of Well Said and Jimmy Takter trainee is a perfect three-for-three so far this season. She’s coming off a last-to-first power sweep in her last race, a winner’s over $25,000 lifetime over this same oval.
The complete field in post order is as follows: 1. Yagonnakissmeornot, 2. Sassa Hanover, 3. Venus Delight, 4. Devil Child, 5. Katie Said, 6. Waasmula, 7. Sell A Bit N, 8. Color’s A Virgin.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Top trotters to compete in Maxie Lee Memorial (Friday, May 27, 2016)
The 12th race on a power-packed program at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Sunday (May 29) is named after long time horsemen Maxie Lee.