The veteran Explosive Matter gelding Rich And Miserable went directly to command and never looked back, winning Sunday afternoon's (May 7) $20,000 Open Trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:54.1.
Driver David Miller used the favourite to put second choice Warrior One in behind him in the :27.1 opening quarter. With the short field, Rich And Miserable was able to get a big breather to a :57 half and a 1:26 three-quarters, but Focus Pocus came moving outside to challenge near the latter station. Rich And Miserable had more than enough in reserve to trot out in :28.1 for his 47th victory. Focus Pocus was able to photo Warrior One, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner of $769,619 who is trained by Todd Buter for Buter Farm Inc. and Lynette Buter.
Once In A Lifetime, a Father Patrick colt who set a divisional track record of 1:54.2 in winning his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship at two, lowered his lifetime best to 1:53.4 while making a successful sophomore seasonal debut in a $14,400 co-featured trot. Once In A Lifetime gained from the pocket into a :28 last quarter to defeat pacesetter The American Eagle by a half-length for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim Campbell and Sad Frog Farms.
The 12-year-old Crazed gelding JL Cruze showed he still knows the way to the winner's circle, catching pacesetting favourite Mystical Wynn by three-quarters of a length while winning a $13,000 fast-class co-featured trot in 1:54.4. Tim Tetrick also handled this winner, with Eric Ell training the 57-time winner with a bankroll of $1,858,853 for owners Ken Wood, William Dittmar Jr., and Stephen Iaquinta.
In all, Tim Tetrick had six winners on the day, upping his lead in the 2023 drivers derby to 42-30 over fellow Hall Of Famer David Miller.
Racing resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday, May 11 at 12:25 p.m. (EDT). The current schedule includes Thursday and Friday racing at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday action at 12:40 p.m. Wednesdays at 12:25 p.m. will be added to the mix on May 17.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)