A son of Badlands Hanover, Ghost Pine was parked to the quarter but cleared the outside post leavers Control Tower and Letschasethedreamn in a :26.4 first quarter. He then brushed to command in front of the stands for driver Pat Berry and hit the half in :55 flat.
Favored Boogie Shuffle couldn’t make much of an impact before or after the 1:22.3 three-quarters, but with Control Power to his right and Letschasethedreamn to his left who came at him hard down the lane. It took the photo finish to determine that Ghost Pine held on by a neck triumph over Control Tower, just ahead of Letschasethedreamn.
The win was the fastest of the season and the 35th in the career of Ghost Pine, who boosted his earnings to $387,674. Ron Coyne Jr. trains the veteran for owners Blair Corbeil and Mike Mcallister.
The first pari-mutuel race for two-year-olds in 2019, was won by Adriano Hanover in 1:54.4, equaling the North American season’s record clocking achieved by two-year-old colts at Philly during yesterday’s qualifying races, Major Betts and All Hands On Deck.
Adriano Hanover did not have an easy trip, tucking fourth for driver Tim Tetrick and then having to go first-over against favored pacesetter Southwind Dredge, but the youngster showed real talent while coming home in 27.2 to finish a length ahead of the favorite.
Adriano Hanover has the pedigree to be a top colt. He is a son of Western Ideal out of A And G’sconfusion, a 2-year-old champion, world record-setter, and winner of almost $1.5 million. Jim King Jr. trains for Jo Ann Looney-King and Joseph Palermo III.
A second 2-year-old pacing colt won on the card. Hunter Hill is trained by Chris Oakes and was up against older horses in a 4-year-old and under non-winners of one event. The colt came from10 lengths behind at the three-quarters with driver Tim Tetrick to win in 1:55, ahead of Keystone Maxim, with an individual last quarter of :27.3.
The Somebeachsomewhere colt out of Ali Blue, whose grand dam produced millionaire Fashion Delight, was within a fifth of the season’s record in taking a mark for the ownership group of Northfork Racing Stable, John Craig, and breeder Tom Hill.