Chester, PA – The $150,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational at Harrah's Philadelphia is one of the main pitstops of talented older trotters, and this year is certainly no exception.
This year's race is highlighted by Triple Crown Winner and 2017 Aged Trotter of the Year Marion Marauder. The 5-year-old son of Muscle Hill was impressive on seasonl debut over the suburban Philly oval, stopping the clock in 1:52.1 in a Great Northeast Series Event. The Paula Wellwood trainee is up to $2.5 million plus in career earnings, with 15 wins in 39 career starts.
Top contenders include twice millionaire and defending Maxie Lee Champion Crazy Wow, and Mac Nichol's Will Take Charge.
Crazy Wow, 6-year-old son of Crazed, is looking for his second win of the season after coming off of a disappointing 5th place finish last week in a Great Northeast Series Event. He did battle to a :54.1 half mile, before ceding ground the final quarter of a mile. The Ron Burke trainee has 21 wins in 62 career starts.
The Jeff Gillis trained Will Take Charge has been solid in 10 starts this season, with 5 resulting in wins, and a near-miss second to Harness Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover in the Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands. He won last week in a Great Northeast Series event despite breaking at the start.
Two-time Dan Patch Award winner Broadway Donna took care of business in her seasonal debut. The 5-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover came off of a pair of good qualifiers against Hannelore Hanover, winning her debut in 1:51.4 in a Preferred Handicap at The Meadowlands. The Jim Campbell trainee is hoping to rebound after a one win season as a 4-year-old.
Other contenders include Blair and Erna Corbeil's Rubber Duck, star Indiana trotter I Know My Chip, Canadian invader Warrawee Roo, and the Andy Miller charge Tuonoblu Rex.
Post Time on Sunday, May 27th at Harrah's Philadelphia is 12:40 PM Eastern. Patrons are encouraged to bring the family for a fun filled afternoon which will include clowns, face painters, balloon animals, and much more. There will be food and beverage specials on the patio.
ACTION AT HARRAH'S TODAY
Dr J’s Kiss, knocking on the door with seconds in her last two starts, sprung an 11-1 upset in the $17,000 featured pace for mares Wednesday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, stopping the timer in 1:52.3.
David Miller locked to have the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere in good position, second-over behind favored Obvious Blue Chip, but by mid-backstretch it was apparent that the chalk would not have enough in her seasonal bow, forcing Miller to send his filly three-wide to reach two-wide uncovered status by the far turn. Through the stretch Dr J’s Kiss proved the strongest, winning by ¾ of a length over pocketsitting Windy Sport, a 66-1 proposition who came up the inside to nip pacesetting Moments Of Joy for the deuce.
A five-time winner in thirteen seasonal starts last year, Dr J’s Kiss needed until this, her tenth start of 2018, to finally break through to Victory Lane. Trainer Joe Pavia Jr. co-owns the winner with Steven Held and the namesake inspiration of the horse, Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky.
David Miller had four wins on the Wednesday card; the father-son/trainer-driver combination of Erv and Marcus Miller teamed for three victories.
by Michael Bozich, for Harrah's Chester