Harrah's Philadelphia: Maxie Lee Invitational taken by an impressive Guardian Angel AS

Guardian Angel AS continued his sustained improvement on Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, capturing the $100,000 Maxie Lee Invitational for open trotters in 1:51 flat, just a tick off his lifetime mark.

Driven by Tim Tetrick, Guardian Angel AS stayed two-wide from post two around the first turn and pushed on to the front past Pinkman (Dexter Dunn) beyond the 27 second opening quarter. Guardian Angel AS would then go on to hit the half in 55 2/5, with Trolley (Marcus Miller) testing the waters first-up from fourth nearing that marker.

Trolley's bid was rebuffed by Guardian Angel AS to the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, and the pace-setter never faced another challenge from that point, drawing off in a 27 3/5 final panel to defeat Pinkman by 2 3/4 lengths. Fiftydallarbill (David Miller) was up for third, followed by Top Flight Angel (Andy Miller), and Cruzado Dela Noche (Brian Sears).

"The way that it worked out, it was good," said Tetrick. "I thought maybe Trolley would step out of there and Homicide Hunter, but Homicide Hunter didn't sprint off the gate at all, and they looped him from the outside. I just took my time, and the two that were there, I figured they'd be happy to follow my horse, he's been racing really good.

"I drove him a little bit at two, and I drove him some at three and four, and every year he's gotten better, stronger, and smarter. He's got some demons between his ears sometimes, but when he gets it all together, he can absolutely fly."

Anette Lorentzon trains Guardian Angel AS, a 5-year-old Archangel stallion, for owner/breeder ACL Stuteri AB and co-owner Kjell Johansson. Guardian Angel AS is now an 18-time winner, and he has pocketed $594,780. The 9-5 choice, he paid $5.80 to win.

"That's what we've been working for, and finally this year it seems like we're going to put it all together," said Lorentzon.

Lorentzon's father John-Erik Magnusson lost his life in an accident at their Kentucky farm last year, so this was a special win for her given her father's opinion of Guardian Angel AS.

"This was our father's absolute favorite horse in the last few years, so it's even a better feeling," she remarked.

And while Guardian Angel AS wasn't exactly enthused about getting his picture taken in the winner's circle, throwing a bit of a fit, his trainer said that was okay with her.

"He's lacking a lot of manners, but as long he's going fast on the racetrack, that's all that matters," she laughed.