The 2016 edition of The Betsy Ross at Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races on the star-studded fourteen race harness racing program that includes The Maxie Lee Memorial Trot, The Dorothy Mullin Invitational Pace, an open pace, and two winner's over events.
The Betsy Ross is an Invitational event for filly and mare pacers, going for a purse of $200,000. The Philadelphia seamstress is widely credited with making the first American Flag in 1776. Last year's Betsy Ross was the stage for a tremendous stretch duel between winner Radar Contact and the richest pacing mare of all time Anndrovette, who is a past winner and multiple Dan Patch champion.
This year's edition features 3 million dollar mares. The first of which, Yagonnakissmeornot, drew post number one. The 7-year-old daughter of The Panderosa is the leading money earner in the field, with career earnings just shy of 1.4 million dollars. The Rene Allard trainee went on quite a terror in the month of April, winning two legs of the Bluechip Matchmaker, and then the finals at Yonkers. If she were to win on Sunday, it would be the 40th of her career.
2015 Little Brown Jugette winner Sassa Hanover drew post 2. She has also earned over $1 million in her career, in just 42 lifetime starts. She is coming into Sunday's race off of 3 straight second place finishes, including a loss to Devil Child in her last race. Devil Child will start from post 4 in this event.
Color's A Virgin is the third millionaire mare in the group. The 2014 Jugette winner is looking for her first win of the season in her 4th start. Her last win came in the 2015 Breeders Crown, where she was able to fight off Sandbetweenurtoes (entered in a winner's over for mares on Sunday's program) and Venus Delight (2014 Bluechip Matchmaker winner), who is starting from post 3 in this event.
The most formful mare in the field right now may be Black Horse Racing's Katie Said. The 5-year-old daughter of Well Said was on her way to winning last year's Breeders Crown affair for aged mares, when a break late in the stretch while leading cost her the race. The Jimmy Takter trainee is a perfect 3 for 3 so far this season. She's coming off of a last-to-first power sweep in her last race, a Winner's Over $25,000 lifetime over this same oval.
The complete field in post order is as follows:
(1) Yagonnakissmeornot
(2) Sassa Hanover
(3) Venus Delight
(4) Devil Child
(5) Katie Said
(6) Waasmula
(7) Sell A Bit N
(8) Color's A Virgin
There is a six-hour detention for the three big races (Maxie Lee, Betsy Ross, and The Dorothy Mullin).
The Riverview Terrace will be open for lunch from 12-4 p.m. For reservations, call 484.490.2222 or 610.874.5200.
It will be Family Fun Day , with face painters, balloon artists, and many more activities for the kids.
There will also be a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool, which will encompass races nine-12 and include the invitational races.
Michael Bozich