The $1.2 million-winning eight-year-old Dayson held off the strong stretch charge of late-developing Baldaquin to win the $16,200 to win the last “Trottin’ Thursday” feature of the year at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:55 over good going.
Tim Tetrick moved Dayson out of mid-pack shortly after a :27.4 quarter, reaching the top well before a :57.1 half. Baldaquin, a five-year-old making only his 26th lifetime start, was last entering the backstretch, but was soon on the move uncovered and trotted up with a third split of his own in :27.4 to reach the leader’s wheel by the 1:26 three-quarters. Baldaquin kept to task gamely through the stretch, but the winning Conway Hall gelding had more than enough to win by a neck for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, taking his 42nd career victory in lifetime start #100.
In the $15,300 co-featured trot, Vinny De Vie overcame a first-over journey, wearing down pacesetting three-year-old Tricky Dick by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3. George Napolitano, Jr. drove the successful Muscle Hill gelding for trainer Tom Fanning and owner Joseph Smith.
The final card of the 2021 racing season at Harrah’s Philadelphia will take place on the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve, with a special post time of 2:30 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)