Magical Mistress reaches at Harrah’s Philadelphia; handle eclipses $1 million

Driver Simon Allard enjoyed top billing on Sunday afternoon (May 16) at Harrah’s Philadelphia by way of a five-win performance capped by a 1:50.4 score from Magical Mistress ($10.00) in the $16,200 distaff pacing feature.

After a strong start from post four in the field of seven, Magical Mistress yielded control of the pace to 6-5 favorite Caviart Cherie (Daniel Dubé), and were content to track sectional times of :26.2, :56.2 and 1:23 before angling to the open stretch off the home turn. Allard asked Magical Mistress for every bit of energy she had through the stretch, and the 5-year-old Camystic mare surged in the final 70 yards to collar Caviart Cherie by a head. Crazy Cute (George Napolitano Jr.) finished third, two lengths back, after forcing the pace to quicken up the backstretch.

Magical Mistress, a standout in her native Prince Edward Island as a 2-year-old, is trained by Lou Peña for Island native Donald MacRae in partnership with D Racing Stable Inc. She has won 21 of her 39 career starts to date.

Allard also took both sub-featured events for male pacers, driving Pyro ($5.00) to a 1:49.3 victory for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Owen before teaming up with another Peña trainee in Somewhere Fancy ($13.40), also a 1:49.3 winner. His other driving wins came aboard Dealt A Winner ($3.20, 1:50.3) and Better Take It ($2.80, 1:51.1).

All-sources handle for the 14-race card was $1,037,261.

Wednesday’s (May 19) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia features a trio of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old pacing fillies, featuring defending champion and Three Diamonds winner Blue Diamond Eyes, Breeders Crown runner-up JK Alwaysbalady, and Matron winner Continualou among the 17 entrants. Post time is 12:25 p.m.