CHESTER, PA – When archrival Bettor Trix N was scratched from the $17,000 distaff featured pace at Harrah's Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon, the A Rocknroll Dance filly Scuola Hanover looked like she would have fairly smooth sailing to her fifth straight harness racing victory.
But the favorite came up short in the stretch, and Jaye's A Lady sprang a $23.40 upset for driver Andy Miller in 1:52.3.
Big City Betty gunned away to the lead in 26.2 despite the outside post seven; early pocketsitter Cuts Like A Knife moved and gained the lead well before the cutthroat 54.3 half.
Scuola Hanover led the outer tier, with Jaye's A Lady and Believe In Me behind her, and when Big City Betty tired from her early efforts, Scuola Hanover was able to tuck into the pocket before the blistering 1:22.2 3/4s. Jaye's A Lady, covered to this point, grinded up to take the lead in the lane, then held off Believe In Me by a half-length, with Cuts Like A Knife another length back and a neck ahead of Scuola Hanover.
The victory was the first of the year for the McArdle mare after a $100,000+ season turned in during 2017. Nancy Johansson trains the winner for Caviart Farms.
The Camluck gelding Feeling Cam Lucky turned in the fastest mile of the day in a $12,500 pace for driver George Napolitano Jr., going wire-to-wire in 1:50.4, but it's just as likely that people were talking about the second-place finisher afterward.
The Somebeachsomewhere gelding Duplicated N, another of the "New Zealand pipeline horses" for Team King/Looney King/Poillucci of Shartin N fame, got away second-last from his outside starting position, was ten lengths out at the half, then negotiated his own back half in 53.4 while also shifting stretch course to avoid the drifting winner to finish second, beaten 1¼ lengths.
Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, who owns and trains Feeling Cam Lucky, had three conditioning wins on the day, using three different drivers. Tim Tetrick topped the sulkysitters with a trio of successes.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs