Harrah's Philadelphia: Courtly Choice rebounds, becomes a millionaire in Commodore Barry Invitational

Courtly Choice bounced back after not making the Confederation Cup final to down older foes in the $100,000 Commodore Barry Invitational for pacing males on Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, halting the teletimer in 1:49 1/5 and becoming harness racing's newest millionaire with the lion's share of the purse.

Driver David Miller took Courtly Choice back to sixth from post four while a big scramble for the early lead went on between rail starter The Wall (Jim Pantaleano), Pacing Major (Jordan Stratton), and Tiger Thompson (Dexter Dunn). The Wall was not in a yielding mood, stretching out both the outside challengers, with Pacing Major finally clearing into the pocket and Tiger Thompson taking the worst of it three-wide before overtaking Pacing Major past a swift 25 2/5 opening quarter.

It looked like Courtly Choice was in-line for a second-over trip behind Rodeo Rock (Andrew McCarthy), who had come to the outside from fifth, but they both picked up an extra horse in the cover flow as The Wall vacated the cones to go after Tiger Thompson towards the 53 1/5 half. The Wall then cleared, putting Rodeo Rock back first-over and Courtly Choice second-over as they hit three-quarters in 1:20 2/5.

The Wall, who was dismissed at 64-1, raced nothing like it, resolutely holding the top spot around the far turn and into the lane, but Miller cut Courtly Choice loose three-wide for the drive, and he had the best kick, getting up to win by two lengths. Rodeo Rock finally got around The Wall in the stretch to take second, with Pacing Major fourth and Filibuster Hanover (Matt Kakaley) fifth.

"By the three-eighths I thought I was in a real good spot, then when Jimmy Pantaleano moved The Wall back out, I was like ehhhh," said the winning driver. "But he ended up clearing, and then I was in a golden spot. No complaints, he raced well, and got the job done.

"I think he's doing great. I think he'll have a good season again this year. I wouldn't tag him number one, but they're going to know he's there."

Blake MacIntosh trains Courtly Choice, a 4-year-old son of Art Major, for owners Hutt Racing Stable, Mac And Heim Stables, Daniel Plouffe, and Touchstone Farms Inc. Courtly Choice made his 14th appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now earned $1,037,954 in his life. He was the 9-5 favorite and returned $5.80 to win.

"He tied up a little bit at home. That's a race I really want to win because my training track backs right onto Flamboro, so I was a little upset last week, but things worked out this week," offered MacIntosh. "Today David said he was back to himself, so that's good.

"This race wasn't really part of our plan, but I needed a race for next week, and this just happened to fall in our lap. I felt we could take on this competition."

MacIntosh added that Courtly Choice will be heading back to Canada now to contest the second leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-olds.