Harrah's Philadelphia: Horse of the Year Shartin wins qualifier in 1:51

Harness Horse of the Year Shartin N stuck to her recent off-the-pace tactics in a Thursday morning qualifier at Harrah's Philadelphia, but she still devastated her field in a snappy 1:51 over a "good +1" oval.

Driver Tim Tetrick had the daughter of Tintin In America in fourth, five lengths off the lead in a 55 3/5 half, then turned her loose down the backstretch, and she rocketed up in 26 3/5 to grab the lead before the three-quarters, drawing clear by 2 3/4 lengths. The Kiwi import may be approaching a career peak in short order for trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Tim Tetrick LLC.

Most of the other attention during the Philly a.m. session was paid to 2-year-olds, the vast majority of whom were making their first trips behind the gate - and perhaps appropriately on a day when Shartin N raced here, both the trotting and pacing divisions saw a filly post the fastest clocking.

The most impressive winner among the freshmen was Dancethenightaway, a daughter of A Rocknroll Dance - Mikayla Rose, who pulled the pocket and gained into 56 - 27 1/5 back fractions to get up by a head in 1:57 1/5 over Easy To Please. Trainer/driver Andrew Stafford is also a co-owner of the fast distaffer with Bonnie Benson, John Johannsen, and Holly Case.

The other two divisions of the 2-year-old pacing filly events fell to Team Tetrick / King, with both winners kicking home in 27 2/5 - Sniper Hanover (Captaintreacherous - Snippet Hanover) in 1:58 3/5 and Lady Newton (Sweet Lou - I'm Sassy) in 2:01 4/5.

Quickest of the young pacing males was the Roll With Joe - Shawnee Dancer colt Dancing Joe, who came his personal back half in 56 4/5 to freeze the timer at 1:58 3/5 at the finish for driver Tony Morgan and owner/trainer Chris Temming.

Among trotters, the Donato Hanover - Dream Child filly You Ato Dream blasted home in 29 1/5 to win her bow in 2:02. Trainer/driver Jeff Gregory is also a co-owner in the promising miss with William Richardson, George Romanoff, and Martin Garey.

Success in the events for trotting males went to the Donato Hanover - Fortune Of Fables colt in 2:03 3/5 for driver George Dennis and trainer Joe Columbo, along with the Bar Hopping - Up Front Annika gelding Ginger Tree Knox in 2:03 4/5 and trainer/driver Steve Cook.

Harrah's Philadelphia will present its first pari-mutuel card of the year this Sunday at 12:40. The other three cards in the normal four-day racing week will be held Wednesday through Friday at 12:25.

-edited release (PHHA/Philly)