Delaware invader Heavensdor Hanover got a good trip in the pocket, then went to the lead along the inside in the stretch and captured the $15,300 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (April 21).
Driver Tim Tetrick got the altered son of Donato Hanover away well in the field of six, then sat in the pocket behind Buxton as that one cut fractions of :28, :58.1 and 1:27.1, with Divine Spirit joining the leader outside of him in first-over position at the three-quarters. While these two backed off in the lane, Tetrick had plenty of horse, and Heavensdor Hanover won by a neck over late-gaining Spunkinsrocketman for trainer Wayne Givens and the partnership of Legacy Racing Of DE Inc., Carolyn Mac Isaac and Ross Warriner.
Ceffyl Dwr took full advantage of track geometry in winning the $14,400 co-feature trot in 1:57.2. Driver Jackie Ingrassia hustled away from the rail with the son of Andover Hall, forcing tucks then letting favoured Infinity Stone go to sit the pocket behind fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:28.3. Ceffyl Dwr went to the open stretch, trotted to the lead, then held off a late burst from 70-1 shot Comeonover Hanover by a length, with Infinity Stone settling for third. The winner is trained by Frank Ingrassia for the ownership of the driver, Donna Franchetti and Thomas Doran.
In the $11,200 fast-class trotting contest, the Donato Hanover gelding Lean Hanover got away from post eight to easily make the lead, then strung his field out while winning handily by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.1. The clock registered :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.1 as the rest of the field gave chase behind the winner, who took his second straight contest for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Linda Toscano and the partnership of P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc. and Karen Carroll.
Andrew McCarthy led the drivers colony with three victories. Tony Morgan finished second in his only two drives of the day, so his career win number, second in North American history behind Dave Palone, stays at 16,999 victories – he’ll go after his milestone here on Sunday.
Philly will be in action on Friday and Sunday this weekend, with the former card beginning at 12:25 p.m. and the latter at 12:40 p.m. Friday’s program will feature a carryover of $2880.25 in the Pick 5 wager offered on races five through nine. Program pages are or will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA/Harrha's Philadelphia)