Economy Terror heads field for Sunday's Betsy Ross Mares Invitational

Owner Howard Taylor hopes Economy Terror can return to be a feared force among female pacers this season.

The 4-year-old Economy Terror is among eight horses in Sunday's $250,000 Betsy Ross Mares Invitational at Harrah's Philadelphia. The field includes Anndrovette, who was voted harness racing's best older female pacer in 2012 and 2011, as well as defending champion Royal Cee Cee N.

Sunday's 14-race card, which begins at 12:40 p.m., also includes the $250,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational for older trotters. The Betsy Ross is race 10; the Maxie Lee race 12.

Economy Terror was named the sport's best 2-year-old filly pacer in 2011 when she won eight of 11 races, earned $926,520 and became the fastest 2-year-old filly ever on a five-eighths-mile track by capturing the Three Diamonds Stakes with a 1:50.3 mile at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Last year, Economy Terror won five of 15 races, including the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, and earned $438,040. She finished the season No. 5 on the money list for 3-year-old filly pacers, but had only one victory outside the sire stakes circuit.

"It was a financially successful year, but it wasn't exactly what we were hoping for," said Taylor, an attorney and restaurateur from Philadelphia. "I'm hoping she steps up and regains the stature she had at [age] 2. She's a thrill to own. She's a great mare and maybe a little underappreciated in her career."

Taylor shares ownership of Economy Terror with Phoenixville's Edwin Gold and Archbald's Chuck Pompey. She is trained by Chris Oakes and starts the Betsy Ross from post No. 1 with driver Matt Kakaley. She is winless in two starts this season, but is coming off a second-place finish to Betsy Ross contender Feeling You on May 19 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Taylor said. "It should be a great race. It shapes up as a real chess match. One is not an ideal post, but she can get off the gate pretty good. Hopefully, she can settle in second or third and let them go at it."

Taylor, who won the Maxie Lee twice with Buck I St Pat, is looking for his first win in the Betsy Ross.

Betsy Ross field

In post position order, drivers, trainers

1. Economy Terror, Kakaley, Oakes

2. Drop The Ball, Callahan, Croghan

3. Marie's Z Tam, Brennan, Garcia-Herrera

4. Romantic Moment, Miller, Takter

5. Anndrovette, Tetrick, Fraley

6. Rocklamation, Gingras, Burke

7. Feeling You, Buter, Buter

8. Royal Cee Cee N, Pierce, Harder

Maxie Lee field

In post position order, drivers, trainers

1. Ice Machine, Callahan, Carroll

2. Uncle Peter, Miller, Takter

3.Blacktuxwhitesocks,Brennan, Smedshammer

4. He's Spooky, Carlson, Hall

5. Wishing Stone, Gingras, Burke

6. Opening Night, Campbell, Campbell

7. Sevruga, Miller, Miller

8. Modern Family, Tetrick, Bier

At Parx. David Blethen's Withgreatpleasure, the winner of the Grade 2 Ruffian Handicap at Aqueduct on April 6, will head the field in the $75,000 My Juliet Handicap Saturday at Parx Racing.