Todd McCarthy made a clean sweep of the features for pacing distaffs on Friday, April 19 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, triumphing with Absolute Power in the $18,493 headliner for developing horses and then coming back with Blood Moon A to get the big share of the $17,808 purse in the contest for fast-class mares.
The outside post seven proved to be little challenge for the Sweet Lou four-year-old mare Absolute Power, who led at every call, with fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.3. Vel Miss Taylor gave good stretch chase from the pocket, but Absolute Power stayed in control by 1-1/4 lengths in matching her lifetime best of 1:52.3, set here two years ago. The powerful team of trainer Tom Cancelliere and brother/owner John own the swift winner.
The Pet Rock mare Blood Moon A enjoyed a pocket trip in the event for proven older females while Kickupyaheels N set fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.1. Blood Moon A was moved outside for the stretch and managed to work by the pacesetter by a neck, with Turn On The Charm a hard-closing third, just pictured out for second. The victory was the first on North American soil for Blood Moon A in three starts since her importation, which means the 1:51.2 final time is her new mark for trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing LLC.
The race after Blood Moon A won, McCarthy piloted the Meadowlands shipper to Decision Day to victory, giving him four visits to the winner's circle Friday at Philly – and then he headed off to The Meadowlands for nighttime competition over the Jersey mile oval.
There are a pair of $17,808 paces for the fast-class set when racing resumes at Philly on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. The seventh race division appears the tougher of the two, with All Class, a 1:49.3 winner here last Sunday, starting from the rail and having Dragononthebeach just to his right – a far easier spot than the outside post the “Dragon” faced last week. Should the latter prevail, trainer Jeff Cullipher could be in a good spot to sweep the headliners, as he has early favourite Ervin Hanover in the 10th race feature section. Free programs for Harrah’s Philly racing are available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)