A field of eight upper-level conditioned pacers were in action on Sunday afternoon (May 17) at Harrah's Philadelphia. It was a pace for non-winners of $20,000 in their last five starts going for purse of $22,000.
The wagering public made twenty-three time winner Duc Dorleans (Daniel Dube) the heavy favorite in the first leg of the daily pick four.
The son of Shanghai Phil was dropping down in class after a fifth place finish in an open event here last week. He wasted little time asserting himself, as he was put in play immediately from post five. After clearing the lead just past the quarter (:27.2), he was able to rate the half somewhat (:55.3) before facing a first-over challenge from Little Bapa LLC's Sandestin Hanover (Geo. Napolitano Jr.). After three-quarters (1:22), Duc Dorleans began to draw away, with Sandestin Hanover clearing second. 5-year-old gelding Lonewolf Currier (Allan Davis) was able to close mildly in the lane, but not enough to catch a determined leader.
Duc Dorleans crossed the line a length clear, stopping the clock in a seasonal's best 1:49.4.
It was his seventh win of the year out of fourteen starts. Lonewolf Currier was second, while Sandestin Hanover finished third.
Duc Dorleans is owned by Gestion Levesque 2005 Inc. and Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc of Canada, and trained by Marie DuPont. He paid $2.60.
