CHESTER PA – A trio of $16,000 harness racing events for the developing "non-winners of 5 races" younger set were featured on a blustery Wednesday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, where a one second time allowance was given due to the weather.
The single feature trot went to the Muscle Mass sophomore gelding Armageddon Seelster, who took a new mark of 1:56 despite the inhospitable conditions. Pat Berry sent the three-year-old right to the top, then yielded to sit behind the mare Zette Minx through fractions of 28.2, 58.3, and 1:26.3. No serious outer tier action developed, so Berry was able to swing Armageddon Seelster outside nearing headstretch, and he outtrotted Zette Minx to the wire by 1 1/2 lengths for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and the triumvirate of Ron Coyne Stables Inc., Blair Corbeil, and Mike McAllister.
In the first of the two pacing headliners, the Richess Hanover gelding Sullivan came uncovered with a personal 27 third quarter to grab an early backstretch lead he would never relinquish, withstanding a late rally from a shuffled Fox Valley Hijinx by 1½ lengths in 1:55. Anthony Morgan was in the sulky behind the promising winner for trainer Virgil Addison (who had a training double) and Lady Mardot Racing LLC.
The last two races on the card had to be raced for purse money only. But the Mach Three sophomore gelding Gold Rush didn't need betting accompaniment to be impressive in his powerful 1:53.4 win, as he swept off cover and paced his own last quarter in 28 into a stiff wind to defeat California Cruisin by 2¼ lengths. Brett Miller had sulky duty behind the fast finisher for trainer Paul Stafford and owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.
George Napolitano Jr. had three wins on the Wednesday card at Philly while Tim Tetrick had two, so "George Nap" doubled his lead over his main rival in the race for dashwinning honors: the score is 238-236 with eleven cards to go in the 2018 season.
PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia