Western Joe ($16.40) made every call a winning one in Sunday's (Dec. 20) $14,400 top-level pacing feature at Harrah's Philadelphia.
The six-year-old Western Ideal gelding used a :26.1 first quarter to gain uncontested control of the terms from post 6 and, after driver Simon Allard rated a :29 second sectional, parried a stern first-over try from Bettor Memories to win in 1:50.3. Macs Jackpot rode the pocket to finish second one-and-a-quarter lengths behind, but was demoted to sixth after bearing out in the homestretch and causing interference to multiple horses. Vettel N was elevated to second after emerging out of traffic. Rock The Town circled down the grandstand side to be elevated to third. Even-money favourite Ana Afreet N was parked throughout from post 8 and failed to fire off a second-over trip.
Chris Choate trains 29-time winner for breeder Anthony Ruggeri, who shares ownership with Richard Tosies.
Trainer Ron Burke recorded a hat trick on the 14-race card, teaming with driver Yannick Gingras to win with Rockapelo ($4.80, 1:50.3), Dojea Gizmo ($3.00, 1:51.2) and Pyro ($2.20, 1:51.4).
Racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday (Dec. 23), with a $14,111.42 carryover in the fifth-race Jackpot Hi-5. Post time is 12:25 p.m. (EST).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)