Harrah's Philadelphia: Strong group of 2-year-olds put in first qualifying session

The 2-year-olds were out in force at Harrah's Philadelphia on Tuesday morning (6/7), with 10 fields of babies taking preparatory steps towards their racing career. Here are the highlights of the four divisions, divided by gait and sex:

PACING COLTS -- Fastest of all of the morning's freshmen was Lyons Surfing, victorious in 1:56 3/5 to bring driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King Jr. one of their two wins in this section. The colt by Stay Hungry -- Surfside Sexy went wire-to-wire, with back fractions of 56 3/5 - 27 4/5 for Threelyonsracing. The other Tetrick / King success in this group was Life's A Puzzle (Lazarus N -- Dee's Lioness) in 1:58 1/5.

PACING FILLIES -- Driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Cory Mumford had the two fastest winners in this section. The Downbytheseaside -- Lionness Hanover miss Lioness By The Sea had the quicker clocking, winning on the engine in 1:56 4/5 for owner Frank Chick. The stable's other McCarthy-driven success was Lofty Treasure, a daughter of Beachtrea -- Lofty Yankee, who reported home first in 1:57 3/5.

TROTTING COLTS -- Todd McCarthy also guided the fastest freshman in this category, the International Moni -- Blinded By Lindy colt Inter Mischief, who sat a pocket trip then came home in 29 1/5 to win in 2:00 4/5 for trainer Jamie Sullivan, co-owner with Frank Chick.

TROTTING FILLIES -- David Miller had the seat behind two of the winners in this section, both wire-to-wire winners. The quicker of these two was Broadway Sensation, a daughter of Bar Hopping -- Broadway Woman who came home in 58 4/5 to complete a 2:00 4/5 mile for trainer Steve LeBlanc and the partnership of Douglas Johnson, Glenn Dyke, and Leblanc Racing Inc. Miller also piloted Portaluca (Donato Hanover -- Motivational) home first in 2:01 1/5.

Replays of these qualifiers will be on the PHHA website.

-edited release (Harrah's Philadelphia/PHHA)