Harrah's Philadelphia: Sweet Gal sizzles in Sunday's Liberty Bell events

The Liberty Bell stakes series for Pennsylvania-sired 2- and 3-year-olds concluded its 2024 run on Sunday at Harrah's Philadelphia, with sophomore fillies racing on both gaits, two $30,000 divisions for each.

Under conditions not optimal for speed, the Sweet Lou pacing miss Sweet Gal went a very big mile, with her 1:49 clocking only three-fifths of a second off the track and world record established by Odds On Hail Mary last season. Driver Andrew McCarthy sat with the winner in the pocket as Sarasota Hanover unloaded monster splits of 26, 54, and 1:21 3/5, then came on in the lane to leave that rival 3 3/4 lengths behind while equaling her lifetime-best for trainer Brett Pelling and owners W.J. Donovan and Mark Mullen.

The other pacing section was also won by a pocket rocket, the Captaintreacherous filly Donegal Spirit, who rallied for the tally by half a length over Canigetalouploup in 1:50 2/5, with pace-setting chalk Pressure Cooker another three-parts of a length back. Andrew Harris is the conditioner of the 8-1 upsetter, who produced a lifetime-best for the ownership of William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and A Harris Racing LLC.

In the quicker trotting mile, the Bar Hopping miss Upallnight Hanover bided her time in third, then was given her marching orders by driver George Napolitano Jr. in the middle of the far turn. Upallnight Hanover used a steady closing kick to overhaul the leading favorite Draw The Line by a head in 1:53 2/5, trotting her own back fractions in 55 3/5 - 27 2/5 while tallying for trainer Ake Svanstedt and Journey Horses Inc.

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The Greenshoe filly Fannie Lipkowitz, bet down to 1-5, must have given her backers some concern when she had to start an uncovered move from last in her section, but she moved up steadily and was in time to catch the pace-setter Diamante Hanover by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 4/5. Rikard Skoglund handled the driving duties for trainer Lucas Wallin and the ownership of Shermay Stables and Wallin Racing Stable Inc.

The redoubtable Warrawee Needy pacing mare Need Ur Opinion equaled her lifetime-best of 1:51 2/5 while recording her 20th win of the year, tops among all U.S.-based horses. George Napolitano Jr. put the tough distaff on the lead, and she couldn’t be caught, winning her third straight for trainer Dean Eckley and owner Ameer Major. (The North American victory leader Hugh Heff was parked at every call in the top class at Northside Downs in Nova Scotia on Saturday and was second by a neck, ending a ten-race winning streak that contributed mightily to his 24 seasonal successes.)

Yannick Gingras led all drivers with four victories on Sunday afternoon; Tim Tetrick and George Napolitano Jr., 1-2 respectively in the seasonal standings at the riverside oval, each had a double. The sole trainer to double up on the afternoon was meet leader Dean Eckley.

Harrah's Philadelphia will race on Thursday and Friday at 12:25 and on Sunday at 12:40 this coming week.

--press release (PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)--