P L Notsonice overcame a not-so-nice journey to win the $22,500 fast-class trotting handicap feature on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 11) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Favourite and $1.7 million winner JL Cruze stormed out of the gate to get early command, and with Yanks Dugout keeping the hole plugged behind him, P L Notsonice and driver Corey Callahan were forced to tuck third early while the chalk went to the quarter in :27.2 then got himself a breather to a :57 half.
Midway between that point and the 1:25 three-quarters, Callahan moved P L Notsonice into first-over position, and the Kadabra mare methodically went about her business, first grinding down JL Cruze and then holding off Yanks Dugout, who had backed out of the pocket to follow her, by 1-1/4 lengths. JL Cruze lasted for third.
P L Notsonice now has grown her lifetime bankroll to $322,771. Steve Brabrook trains the powerful trotter for owners Jaypaul Hoover and Elite Harness Racing LLC, who acquired the mare in January and now have seen her 2022 earnings go over $78,000.
Callahan may soon have himself two calls when the top trotters get together at Philly, with the Dejarmbro gelding Star Razor snapping out of the two-hole from behind Epos Ostervang DK’s fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:25 to go right by that one by four lengths en route to taking a new mark of 1:53.3 in a $15,300 trot for developing horses. It may be that Callahan, top driver on the day with four victories, would stick with Star Razor, as brother Shaun trains him and father Nick co-owns him with Yorwollahan Racing Team and Gregory Godsbout. Star Razor was purchased in March, and after this win, he has taken two straight, seven of his last eight starts and eight races on the campaign, good for $74,660.
In the $16,200 co-featured fast-class trot, the Bar Hopping gelding Robbie Pev continued his own recent improvement with his third win in his last five starts, this one in 1:54.3. David Miller sat in the pocket with the winner behind pacesetter Swan In Motion’s fractions of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.4 then went inside to the passing lane and out-footed the leader home by 1-3/4 lengths for trainer Jill Roland and owner Bernard O’Brien.
Friday will again be the day when Harrah’s Philadelphia will welcome the top fast-class pacers on the local scene, with Komodo Beach, returning to the area after winning a series final in Kentucky in 1:50, installed as the early morning line favourite in the featured $22,500 handicap pace. There will also be a carryover of $1,868.43 into the third race Super Hi-5 bet and a guaranteed $5,000 pool for the Pick-4 bet starting in race one. Program pages are available on the PHHA website.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)