Harrah's Chester celebrates anniversary with Pocohantas

One year ago Monday, Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack opened its doors to the return of harness racing to the Delaware Valley. In Monday's one-year anniversary program, two divisions of the Pocahontas late-closing series for 2-year-old pacing fillies went postward, with Saymynamesaymyname and Real Nasty Miss taking their respective divisions.

Saymynamesaymyname ($6.40) and Brian Sears took the first division in wire-to-wire fashion, pulling the minor upset over 4-5 favorite Artexpress (Steve Smith). The Roland Mallar-trained daughter of Allamerican Native found the lead early on, cutting fractions of :28.1, :58.1, and 1:27.2 with Artexpress taking a pocket trip. At the head of the stretch, Smith pulled the pocket with the Tim Lancaster trainee, but Saymynamesaymyname was just too much, holding on by half a length to win in 1:55.4. Artexpress was good enough for second, with 108-1 shot Newyorkjoyants (Steve Reisenweaver) earning show honors.

The second division saw Mallar and Sears team up again, with Real Nasty Miss ($2.20) tripping the timer in 1:54.3. Friendship Dance and Kevin Sizer went right to the front early on, leading by open lengths through splits of :27.1, :56.1, and 1:24.1. Shortly after the three-quarters, Friendship Dance made a costly break, enabling Real Nasty Miss to inherit a four-length lead over Latakia (Eric Goodell). The daughter of Real Artist held the four-length margin through the stretch, with Latakia staying an even second. Ms. Mae West (Cat Manzi) was a distant third.

In the Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares, Stonebridge Kisses (Eric Goodell) made a three-wide bid from the back of the field through the far turn to nail Dangerous Years (Daniel Dube) at the line in a 1:50.3 mile. (Harrah's Chester)

« Back