CHESTER PA – The betting favorites did not let the crowd down during the two $16,000 harness racing features on the Wednesday afternoon card at Harrah's Philadelphia.
First up was the contest for pacing males, and the crowd naturally went to the American Ideal sophomore colt Artie's Ideal, who had finished third, beaten only a neck, in his Little Brown Jug elimination, and was second in the New York Sire Stakes final to Hickfromfrenchlick. And Artie's Ideal did not disappoint from the pole, going coast-to-coast in 1:52.2 with a 1¾ length margin over Smackitwithahammer at the wire. The father/son team of driver Marcus and trainer Erv Miller saw the three-year-old boost his bankroll to $345,078 lifetime for Bay Pond Racing Stable.
In the trotting section, the Yankee Glide sophomore gelding Yankees Beast was sent off at the public's choice off of several good races at this level, although the occasional break made their support a bit lighter. But Yankees Beast was not a beast but a gentleman on this day, coming a long way uncovered and still grinding down the game pacesetting Trixar, who himself had been hung almost 3/8 to make the top, by a length in 1:56.2. Tim Tetrick drove the winner for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owner Anna Kristina Lorentzon.
Drivers Tetrick and Dexter Dunn were joined by trainer Mark Harder in having thee visits to Victory Lane on the Wednesday card.
PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia