Chester, PA — A pair of $12,000 contests for horses looking to climb the classification ladder — one on each gait — were featured Friday (May 9) at Harrah’s Philadelphia over a surface that was rated “sloppy” most of the afternoon.
n the distaff pacing feature, the sophomore Huntsville filly Shes A Streaker equaled the 1:52 mark she set winning a Home Grown event at the Meadowlands last fall. Verity Blue Chip reluctantly accepted the pocket nearing the quarter and stayed second the rest of the way, finishing 2-3/4 lengths behind the winner. Ron Burke trains the victorious miss for Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and David Miller drove her.
In the trot, the Bold Eagle gelding Modigliani S, who has had a win, a third, and a fourth so far this year despite an early break in each of the first and last races, had perfect manners today, and came uncovered from mid-stretch toreduce his mark to 1:55.4 for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman, and owner Lella Montgomery. Favored Bay Breeze Hanover, who tucked early then moved in the wake of the winner’s flow, was second, a length behind Modigliani S and a neck ahead of pacesetter Santa Cristina.
Meet leading driver George Napolitano Jr. added to his cushion at the top by bringing home three winners, most of all the drivers on the card.
The two top paces on Philly’s Sunday (May 11) card are a $13,500 contest for horses on the rise, and a $13,000 event for the fast-class set; first post is 12:40 p.m. “Super Sunday,” with three $100,000 Invitationals and Pennsylvania-sired action for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, is set for Sunday, May 25. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.