Harrah's Philadelphia: Tequila Monday knocks off Kissin In The Sand, stays perfect this season

The much-anticipated return of Kissin In The Sand was spoiled by the in-form Tequila Monday on Saturday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, as the winner improved to five-for-five so far in 2019 with a 1:51 tally in the opening $30,000 round of the Great Northeast Open Series for pacing mares. The venerable campaigner Melady's Monet won the companion Great Northeast Open Series test for trotters.

Trace Tetrick got the call on Tequila Monday this afternoon, and he worked out a pocket trip for her behind Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan), who chopped out fractions of 26 1/5, 55 2/5, and 1:23. Kissin In The Sand (Scott Zeron) pulled first-over from third just before the half, and she loomed just a length back on the rim at three-quarters.

Apple Bottom Jeans maintained the advantage around the far turn, but Kissin In The Sand struck the front in the lane, and looked like a winner at that point. Tetrick and Tequila Monday had other ideas, though, as the Hunter Oakes-trained mare shot up the passing lane and got around Kissin In The Sand, winning by half a length. Apple Bottom Jeans saved third.

Tequila Monday is a 5-year-old American Ideal mare owned by Northfork Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey. This was her 22nd career victory, and she has now pocketed $818,462. She was the 3-2 second choice and paid $5.00 to win.

Back in the event on the trot, Tyson (Victor Kirby) fired out from post six and took the group of seven to the 27 3/5 opening quarter before releasing Pappy Go Go (George Napolitano Jr.) to the top. Pappy Go Go hit the half in 56, the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, and turned for home first, but Melady's Monet (Jordan Stratton), who had followed the cover of favored Mission Accepted (Corey Callahan) from second-over, came with a wide bid in the lane that got him around the leaders and to the wire a neck to the good in 1:52 4/5. Mission Accepted was the runner-up, followed by Pappy Go Go.

Hermann Heitmann trains Melady's Monet, a 10-year-old Revenue gelding, for owner Melady Enterprises LLC. This was his 57th lifetime win, and he shows earnings of $1,453,248. The 3-1 third choice, Melady's Monet returned $8.40 to win.