Harrah's Philadelphia: Mallar, Tetrick and DiDomenico do damage in Tuesday baby races

Trainer Roland “Polie” Mallar continued on a roll with his 2-year-old pacers during the Tuesday morning session at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with three of his pupils winning (perhaps picking up on the fiery form of stablemate Ken Hanover), but even hotter was the combination of driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Scott Di Domenico, who linked up for victories with five first-time starters spread across the divisions.

The 2-year-old pacing colt duo trained by Mallar were the only pair to push their records to two-for-two. The faster was the Stay Hungry – Rockingcam Park colt Rasaji Hanover, who led at every pole while winning in 1:55 4/5 - 56 – 27 2/5 for driver David Miller and trainer Mallar, also co-owner with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan, and Thaddeus Wier. His stablemate American Road Trip (Captaintreacherous – American Sara) also never looked back in 1:57 3/5 – 57 4/5 – 28 3/5 under the guidance of Andrew McCarthy.

Other baby pacing colt winners were Papi Rick (Papi Rob Hanover – Odds On Pussycat), who won in 1:57 2/5 - 57 – 27 4/5 for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Noel Daley, and Toby Ornot Toby, a colt by Tall Dark Stranger – Mackie Hanover who fronted his field in 1:57 3/5 – 57 1/5 - 28 for Team Tetrick / Di Domenico. These two were first-time starters.

Tetrick / Di Domenico were the brain trust between the two quickest pacing fillies, the swifter of which was Call Me Angelita (Papi Rob Hanover – Angel’s Pride), who was still six lengths out at the three-quarters but roared home to be first in 1:58 3/5, her back numbers 55 1/5 – 26 3/5, for Triple D And Oompa Farm, Michael Rekoon, Craig Henderson, and Steve Stewart. The hot driver/trainer combo also clicked with the Huntsville – Yellow Diamond filly Odds On Enigma, winning in 1:59 2/5 – 57 1/5 - 28.

Trainer Polie Mallar also had a winner in this group, the Courtly Choice – Jungle Genie N distaff Miss Genie Man, overcoming first-over in 1:59 4/5 - 57 – 27 2/5 for driver David Miller; Mallar had the only three winners of the day who raced last week, and this filly posted her first win here. Completing the winners in this group was the 2:01 1/5 – 28 4/5 success story Oahu (Perfect Sting – St Kitts), trained and driven by Aaron Lambert.

The Tetrick – Di Domenico partnership swept the two events for baby trotting males, with the faster time of 2:01 1/5 – 58 2/5 – 28 4/5 rung up by the Captain Corey – Melania colt Jim Beam for owner Allen Wenc. The driver and trainer also succeeded with the International Moni – Honorable Daughter colt An Honest Buck, coming out of the pocket to triumph in 2:02 1/5 with back fractions of 58 2/5 - 29.

The trotting fillies also went gateward in two contests, with Tim Tetrick driving the winner of both, giving him seven victories with babies for the early session. The Tactical Landing – Lima Novelty miss Abbey Blue Chip went the quicker mile, wiring her opposition in 2:01 2/5 – 58 4/5 - 29 for trainer Ron Coyne Jr., with his Ron Coyne Stables Inc. sharing ownership with Blair Corbeil, Edward Pachuta, and Richard Carney. Also a baby filly winner was the royally-bred (Greenshoe – Broadway Schooner) Broadway Jade, a Jim Campbell trainee who stopped the clock in 2:02 4/5.

With freshmen starting to appear in overnights this week, the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes beginning at Butler Fair a week from Wednesday (June 25), and the pari-mutuel Sire Stakes starting on July 2, this may be the last of the babies-centered reports, depending on who does what in future a.m. sessions. The baby qualifiers can be seen at www.phha.org.

-edited release (Philadelphia/PHHA)