Harrah's Chester early-closers attract 445 nominees

Four-hundred-forty-five horses have been nominated to Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack’s six early-closing events. Harrah’s Chester will kick off its 2008 season on Sunday, April 20, the first day of a 140-day meet that will continue through Wednesday, Dec. 16.

“We’re excited about both the quality and quantity of those nominated,” said Rick Kane, Harrah’s Chester racing secretary. “We’ll have the best and the brightest at Harrah’s Chester in 2008.”

Forty-four were made eligible for the second edition of the Ben Franklin Free-For-All Pace, which will go for a $500,000 guaranteed final on June 15.  Included among that grouping are such luminaries as Mr. Feelgood, a recent winner in the Presidential Series at the Meadowlands and the Isle of Capri Series at Pompano Park; Always A Virgin, who captured a division of the Battle of the Brandywine last year; defending champion Boulder Creek; Panaramic Art, winner of 20 consecutive races; Maltese Artist; Manhardt; and Mister Big.

The Betsy Ross Free-For-All Mares Pace boasts an equally star-studded ensemble with the likes of 2007’s Aged Pacing Mare of the Year Moving Pictures and 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year Southwind Tempo among the 38 nominees. Also nominated are Armbro Dancer, Little Miss Dragon, Street Dancer, Stylish Solution, Ulrica Bromac N and Western Graduate. The $40,000 Betsy Ross eliminations are set for opening day on April 20. The $250,000 final is scheduled for April 27.

Fifty-one trotters were nominated to the Maxie Lee Memorial, an event honoring one of the area’s highly respected horsemen that will go to post on Sunday, May 18 with its $40,000 eliminations. The list of nominees that will vie for the $250,000 final on May 25 is headed by Vivid Photo, the Aged Trotter of the Year for the past two seasons, along with last year’s Yonkers Trot winner Green Day and world record holder Gabby Glide.

Sunday, Aug. 17 will be billed as Harrah’s Chester Super Stakes Sunday, and will feature three top events for 3 year olds:  the $500,000G Battle of the Brandywine Pace, the $500,000G Colonial Trot and the $350,000G Valley Forge Filly Pace.

“The Battle” drew 102 eligibles, which include such stars from last season as Dali, Idle Hour, Meant To Be Me, Moon Beam and Sand Shooter.

There were 103 trotters nominated to the Colonial. Among them is one filly, but not just any filly. World champion 2-year-Old trotting filly Snow White looks to take it to the boys in the event. Another standout among the eligibles is last year’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Champion, Lear Jetta, who equaled the world record on a five-eighths mile track last year at Chester in the Pa. Sire Stakes final. Both the Battle and the Colonial have been well-recognized events from year past in the Delaware Valley.

 The Valley Forge made its debut last season at Harrah’s Chester. This year, 105 fillies were nominated. Heading the list will be A And G’sconfusion, the 2007 Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year. Another notable nominee is Lady Annie, who set the track record for freshman filly pacers with her 1:52 effort in September.

The events for the 3 year olds have two consolations as well. Both the Battle and the Colonial will feature a $200,000G and $100,000G consolation, while the Valley Forge has $150,000G and $75,000G consolations. Purse earnings in 2008 (up to the day of the draw) will determine whether a horse races in a final or one of the consolations. (Harrah’s Chester)

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