Town drunks at Chester

A pair of New Zealand-breds, Fake Denario N and Our First Falcon N, each captured first-leg divisions of The Town Drunk late-closer series at Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack on Sunday. The Town Drunk, named after the top-class pacer who frequented Liberty Bell Park and Brandywine Raceway in the late 1970s, is the first late-closer held at the new track in Chester, Pa. Each race carried a purse of $20,000.

Fake Denario N and driver Ron Pierce went first-over approaching the half-mile marker and parlayed that move into a two-length victory in 1:51.2. Noble Tess held on for second, with Tarver Hanover third. The 6-year-old gelding is owned by Martin Scharf and trained by Josh Green.

A son of Fake Left, Fake Denario N was the 2004 Australian Breeders Crown champion as a 4 year old in 2004 and came to the United States the following year. His triumph on Sunday was his seventh in 22 starts in 2006.

In the second division, John Brophy’s Our First Falcon N utilized a similar first-over strategy to duel for command leaving the half-mile pole for trainer-driver Ron Cushing. The 6-year-old son of Falcon Seelster put away the pacesetting Paisan Hall entering the homestretch, and then had enough left to prevail by a quarter length over John Adams, with Doggone Incredible third. The winning time was 1:51.4.

“We went looking for a good horse early this past summer for Mr. Brophy and found Our First Falcon N,” Cushing said afterward. “He is just a perfect horse to drive, and all I have to do is get him in a position to win and he does the rest on his own. I’ll have to talk to the owner, but we’ll probably take the week off and return for the final.”

The second leg of The Town Drunk will take place on Sunday, Nov. 26, with the $40,000 final set for Sunday, Dec. 3. (Harrah's Chester)

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