CHESTER, PA – A pair of $16,000 trotting features at Harrah's Philadelphia Friday afternoon saw the harness racing winners use front-end tactics to produce successful efforts.
In the first, driver Marcus Miller got the Muscle Hill ridgling Boxing Gloves to the lead in :28.4, then got little resistance to his authority, resting to the :59 half and still only having to go to the three-quarters in 1:28 as the first-over favorite Miss You Kelly could make little impression. Boxing Gloves was thus left to sprint home in :28.2 to complete a 1:56.2 package, 1¼ lengths ahead of pocketsitting Choco Charlie for trainer Erv Miller and owner Silver Linden Farms.
While Smooth Acceleration's victory also came from a pacesetting strategy, the course of the race was very different. Tony Morgan moved from third with the favored Swan For All sophomore gelding passing the :28.1 quarter, and as soon as he reached the top he came under pressure from Trixar, who had followed his move outside.
Middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.3 resulted, but Smooth Acceleration stood tall when put to the test, finishing 4¼ lengths ahead of Trixar while taking a lifetime best of 1:54.2 for trainer Jenny Melander and the ownership of Melander Racing Inc. and Clark Stables LLC.
Fast-class pacing mares went postward in a $12,500 contest, where second choice Believe In Me rallied up the inside to just catch the chalk pacesetter Zoe Ellasen in 1:51.2, equaling the mark she had earned at Philly both last year and this. Pat Berry was in the sulky for driver Brett Pelling and owner Bay Pond Racing Stable.
From the PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia