CHESTER PA – The Explosive Matter gelding Major Impact certainly did have a major impact on the racing Thursday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, closing strongly to rally by favored Clive Bigsby in the $17,000 featured trot and returning $106.80 to win.
Driver Marcus Miller had Major Impact on the back of the favorite and advanced behind his cover, then swung wide behind him as he made a three-move move to the lead at headstretch. Major Impact proved the quickest late to win by a neck over Clive Bigsby in 1:56, tallying for trainer Robert Baggitt Jr. and Christine Baggitt.
Both trainer and driver went to the local lead in the longshot standings with the triple-digit victory. Driver Marcus Miller tied Eric Carlson and Brett Miller with two $100+ horses at the meet – and Marcus has had only two $50+ horses in all, whereas the other pair is tied in that category with seven – while Baggitt became the first trainer to have two $100+ horses at the meet, and only the second conditioner to have more than one $50+ winner, after leader Mike Dowdall's four.
Marcus Miller also led an unusual beginning to the Philly Thursday card, winning the first race and leading a Millerfecta, as Andy, Brett, and David Miller won the next three races in succession.
In the $14,500 co-featured trot, Magic Night and driver Yannick Gingras rallied up the inside and bettered Yuge by a neck in 1:55.4. The victorious Kadabra gelding had gapped in the pocket behind favored pacesetter Crazshana much of the last half, but found better strides in the lane and beat out the closing Yuge, with Crazshana third. Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC co-own the winner with J&T Silva Stables; driver Gingras and trainer Ron Burke teamed for their third success of the afternoon, which included the second straight win of the impressive A Rocknroll Dance sophomore pacing filly Reclamation, now two-for-two since "shipping " in from Ireland via Wales.
PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia