Tim Tetrick’s backers cashed win tickets six times on Friday afternoon (April 22) at Harrah's Philadelphia, including a pair of un-Tetrick-like 13-1 upsetters.
Tetrick has 19 victories through the first eight days of the meet, followed by the McCarthy brothers, Andrew (15) and Todd (12, including three today).
The Sunshine Beach gelding Colonel Bayama got a golden two-hole trip behind pacesetting favourite Meet The Creeper, then came out in the lane and proved stronger to take the $14,400 featured pace.
Meet The Creeper stormed away to grab control quickly, with driver Troy Beyer steering Colonel Bayama up to ride in the pocket behind fractions of :26.3, :55.2, and 1:23. The outer tiers never threatened, so Beyer was able to get Colonel Bayama off the rail turning for home, and the pair passed the chalk by three-quarters of a length in a lifetime best 1:51.1. Todd Buter trains for owner Leona Morrissey.
The Tellitlikeitis gelding Ollies ZTam made two early moves to the lead for driver George Napolitano Jr. in the $11,200 fast-class featured pace, then withstood the slow-to-clear Daddyofemall by a half length, with fractions of :27.2, :55.4, and 1:23.1 preceding a final clocking of 1:51.3. The winner of $307,542 is trained by Crissy Crissman-Bier for owner Vincent Ferriero Jr.
Sunday’s 12:40 card will be topped by a pair of $16,200 handicap paces, one each for each sex, with the males having to face the formidable Vettel N as he goes for his fifth straight victory while trying to surmount the outside post eight. Program pages will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)