Early speed is lucrative for Black Mamba AS

CHESTER PA – The great rate of early-speed success in the opening days of the 2019 Harrah's Philadelphia harness racing season continued in the $14,500 featured trot on Thursday, as the Lionhunter mare Black Mamba AS made every pole a winning one in a 1:54 mile.

The winner of $241,060, the 9-5 second choice worked to the front in a 27.1 opener, then got a breather to the half in 57.1. 6-5 favorite Zlatan had to take up uncovered duties and commenced to grind raw against the pacesetter, who reached the 3/4s in 1:24.3. Down the lane the pesky Zlatan would not go away, but Black Mamba AS had enough to hold off that foe by a length for trainer Anette Lorentzon and ACL Stuteri AB.

Black Mambo AS came to Philly after racing at Dover Downs; her driver in the feature, Tim Tetrick, took the opposite trip, posting a 5-2-2-1 scoreboard here before leaving for a twilight card down south where he had five morning line favorites, including the chalk in a $100,000 Delaware final.

Many of the Harrah's faithful held their breath when 2-5 favorite Wildfire Seelster sat in third in the $14,000 co-featured trot, but driver Simon Allard found an inside clear path in the stretch and rallied the sophomore filly by Explosive Matter to catch pacesetting Andovers Asset by a nose in 1:59.

Owner/trainer Austin Brubacker honed his stock well in anticipation of the Eastern Pennsylvania racing season, as he has a high percentage both here at Philly and at Pocono the last few weeks.

 

PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia

Jerry Connors