Arrowhead Hanover stars on Trottin’ Thursday

CHESTER PA – “Trottin’ Thursday” marked the beginning of another three-card harness racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the International Moni gelding Arrowhead Hanover giving another strong performance to take the $13,000 feature for the fast-class older set in 1:53.

Troy Beyer had the winner of $273,436, trained by Daniel Munson for Thestable Arrowheadhanovr, starting quickly and making the lead, yielding near the :27.4 but then regaining command and getting a breather to a :57.2 half. Cheers Hanover started a strong uncovered move before the middle of the backstretch, past a 1:25.1 three quarters, and all the way to the line, but came up three parts of a length shy on the money, with millionaire mare and favorite Elista Hanover trotting her own back half in  :54.4 but having too much ground to make up and settling for third.

ARROWHEAD HANOVER REPLAY

A $12,000 contest for developing diamondgaiters saw the sophomore Gimpanzee filly Atomic Blue Chip return from Kentucky and earn a half length decision over Saint Patrick in 1:56.3, a new mark. Mark Herschberger (more on him in a minute) drove the winner for trainer Annie Stoebe and Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc.

There was also a pair of $12,000 trots for freshmen, one for each sex The Walner – Beyond Magic filly Chica Bonita had little rest in her mile but still turned back Passion Storm by three quarters of a length to take a maiden mark of 1:57.3 for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Juan Cano, and owners Nancy Grbelja and Cano Racing Stable LLC, while the Captain Corey – Lenny Mac colt Captain Action went his own back half raw in :57.4 uncovered to win for the first time in 1:59 for trainer Andrew Harris , who is also co-owner with Ray Lasky and Nathan Cockerham.

Captain Action was driven by  Mark Herschberger, and the 31-year-old pilot, now third in the Philly standings, chopped into second-place Simon Allard’s advantage for the deuce spot behind runaway leader Tim Tetrick by visiting Victory Lane six times. Troy Beyer, also 31 and in fourth, won three times, with doubles posted by Patrick Ryder (32) and Russell Foster (37). Scott Brockwell, who trains only horses he owns, had the only conditioning double.

The rest of the week at Philly finds distaffs in the spotlight for Friday’s 12:25 card; on Sunday at 12:40, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes / Stallion Series two-year-old trotting males line up for their fourth and final preliminaries, trying to earn their way into their rich Championships in early September. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia