A trio of $11,200 contests for developing horses opened a five-day racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday (April 28).
In the first of the contests for pacing males, the gelded son of Mr Wiggles Nextmovebestmove remained undefeated in four starts, chopping down the well-regarded leader Rockin Rocko while lowering his lifetime best to 1:51.2. Montrell Teague drove the Clyde Francis trainee, improving by the race, for George Teague Jr. Inc. and David Collins.
In the other headliner section for sidewheelers, most bettors thought one of the McCarthy brothers would win–but they thought it would be Todd McCarthy behind 1-10 shot Shakespeare. However, it proved to be brother Andrew getting the victory with the Sweet Lou three-year-old colt Tapped Teen in a career best of 1:52.3, coming out of the pocket to wear down the big chalk for owner-trainer Aaron Lambert.
Hunting As was the only favourite to prevail as the John Brennan Trotting Series began with four $20,000 divisions on Wednesday night (March 31) over a sloppy track at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Todd McCarthy, Hunting As worked a pocket trip behind Halo Its Me in the third flight, and watched as that foe clicked fractions of :30.2, 1:00.1, and 1:28.3. Halo Its Me was still in command as they turned into the stretch, but McCarthy had Hunting As finishing well two-wide to then surge by the pacesetter on his way to a one-and-a-quarter length decision in 1:57.3. Blue And Bold finished third after sitting on the inside in fourth.