The favoured Perseverance seemed to have everything going his way in the $18,000 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday (May 3) – two of his six rivals made breaks before the quarter, and another rival, who had suffered early interference, made a crucial break after gaining the lead on the far turn – but waiting in the wings behind him was Fashion Creditor, who came on strongly in the stretch to nip the chalk by a neck in 1:54.3.
Perseverance went quickly to the top from the outside Post 7. Second choice Sir John F jumped early and then Common Parlance also made a break right at the :27.3 quarter, which bothered Fraser Ridge. The leader got a cheap second split of 30 seconds, but down the backstretch Fraser Ridge – a winner of almost $400,000 that was making his seasonal bow – swept right past Perseverance as the three-quarter pole that was reached in 1:25.
Nearing mid-turn, though, the script changed again, as Fraser Ridge lost composure and went into the infield, which gave the favourite another life. But Fashion Creditor and driver Marcus Miller, who had enjoyed the cushy trip in the golden chair, made their move at headstretch and had enough to take the measure of Perseverance nearing the wire.
Tom Fanning trains the Credit Winner gelding, now a winner of $425,622, for owner Joseph Smith.
FINISHING LINES – Rock Of Cashel, a winner of two straight at Harrah’s, and 1:48 mare Nike Franco N, in her 2018 debut, have been accorded morning line favouritism for the two $30,000 events on Saturday’s special Kentucky Derby Day card that will kick off the summer-long $1.8-million Great Northeast Open Series, to be raced at Harrah’s and Pocono. Tim Tetrick, who has taken the lead early in the meet’s dash victory battle, is scheduled to drive both favourites – Rock Of Cashel from Post 3 in the trotters’ contest, and Nike Franco N from Post 5 in the mares’ pace.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)