Its Academic trotted the fastest mile over any five-eighths-mile track in North America this year when he won the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon in 1:51.2.
The $1.4 million-winning son of Uncle Peter burst away from the gate for driver David Miller, getting around double millionaire Amigo Volo past the middle of the first turn. That positioning required a :26.2 expenditure of energy but was a good investment, as Its Academic was then able to get moderate middle splits of :55 and 1:23.2 before sprinting home in :28 to defeat Amigo Volo by 1-1/4 lengths.
Ron Burke trains the classy winner, who had won at The Meadowlands in 1:51.2 in his last start (pictured above), for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.
In a $15,300 trot for developing younger horses, the Wheeling N Dealin gelding Archery Seelster rallied from second-over – not the most-favourable spot on the speed-favouring Philly track – to just catch Ginger Tree Brad for a nose decision in 1:54. The meet’s leading driver and trainer, Tim Tetrick and Jeff Cullipher, combined for the victory with Archery Seelster, who is owned by Pollack Racing LLC.
In the day’s $14,400 pacing headliner, also for up-and-coming horses, the Huntsville gelding Hazeville showed courage to rally back for victory in a lifetime best of 1:50.4. Bloodhound took the lead before the :26 quarter and kept Hazeville on the outside most of the way to a searing :53.2 half before yielding, only to come back to reclaim the top before a blistering 1:21.2 three-quarters. But Hazeville stayed game and rallied up the inside for a neck victory over Sweet Treasure, who was just up to photo out Bloodhound for second.
Hazeville, driven by Simon Allard, has now won two of three 2023 starts and half his 10 lifetime trips behind the gate for trainer Tom Fanning and the partnership of David Rovine Stable LLC, VIP Internet Stable LLC and Howard Taylor.
Tim Tetrick won four of the first eight races before heading to Pocono for stakes action, with his win total enough to lead the other drivers and fatten his margin atop the local standings.
Live Wednesday racing rejoins the basic lineup at Harrah’s Philadelphia this coming week, with the track settling into its main spring/summer schedule of Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)