By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The Father Patrick gelding Amigo Volo just keeps rolling along, as the five-year-old raised his bankroll to $1,765,419 with a closing victory in the $22,500 featured fast-class trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon.
 
Amigo Volo, the 2020 divisional champion among three-year-olds, raced off the pace as opponents provided the early speed, with Scirocco Rob, a winner at this level last week, taking over from Hayek in a hot :26.3 quarter. The leader backed off the pace to :56 (and driver Corey Callahan got a helmetbumping from an eager-to-go Hayek), while Amigo Volo and driver Dexter Dunn became the one to first move to the outside.
 
At the 1:24.1 three-quarters, Yannick Gingras moved Hayek out to challenge, giving brief cover to Amigo Volo, but when that one tipped wide in the stretch he proved to have the most, catching a stubborn Scirocco Rob by a half-length, with Hayek another 1¼ lengths back in third. Amigo Volo is trained by Nifty Norman and owners Pinske Stables and David J. Miller (we use the middle initial to distinguish him from driver David S. Miller, to whom we’ll return later).
 
In the $16,200 co-feature for fast class horses, the eleven-year-old JL Cruze won for the 50th time in his distinguished career, with Tim Tetrick guiding him to fractions of :27.2, :56.3, and 1:24.4 en route to victory in 1:53.4 while raising his lifetime bankroll to $1,746,962. The veteran mare Sorella, herself not much shy of seven figures in earnings, gave good chase from the pocket but came up a half-length shy of JL Cruze, who is trained by Eric Ell for owners Ken Wood, William Dittmar Jr., and Stephen Iaquinta.
 
The $15,300 top trot for up-and-coming horses saw the Angus Hall four-year-old mare X O X O, one of the top fillies in Quebec stakes at two and three, record her fifth straight win, and third since shipping Stateside, in a lifetime mark 1:54.1. After yielding to Capstone to a :27.1 quarter, Andrew McCarthy had X O X O on the move again, reclaiming the lead before the :56.2 half and reaching the three-quarters in 1:24.4 before finally holding the resilient Capstone by a length. D Racing Stable Inc. owns the Deborah Daguet-trained mare.
 
No driver won more than two races on the Thursday card at Philly, but six sulkysitters achieved the feat. Five of them – Dexter Dunn, Tim Tetrick, Yannick Gingras, David Miller, and Andrew McCarthy – were the 1-2-3-4-5 top moneywinning drivers of 2021, in that order, while the sixth, Troy Beyer, made money for his backers Thursday, with his two victories coming in consecutive races with Meanttobe De Vie ($50.40) and Brookview Bluto ($32.00), the two longest shots of the card. 
 
Among Friday afternoon’s highlights are a $14,400 trot for developing horses and five divisions of pacers in American Harness Driving Club action for amateur horsemen. First post is 12:25; program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.     

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – A quartet of $12,600 for up’n’coming trotters and pacers topped the action on Wednesday afternoon, the start of the racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
 
The division of the featured class for trotters went to Medley, a Walner three-year-old filly who rallied from the pocket to catch Nomophobia by 1¼ lengths in 1:56.1. Trainer/driver Lucas Wallin, who seems to be able to do little wrong recently, handled the winner for Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz.
 
There were a pair of featured female paces. In one, Miss Helen Hanover got a patented second-over trip from the track’s leading driver, Tim Tetrick, and was able to overhaul inside rallier Covenant Woman by a half-length while reducing her mark to 1:53.4. Tom Fanning had the sophomore daughter of Captaintreacherous ready for her first race in 38 days for Falcon Racing Stable LLC and Howard Taylor (more on the latter later).
 
The other section saw the Sweet Lou filly Blazing Ramona blaze away from the gate for driver David Miller and open up a big early lead that stood up against late chargers, with the sophomore defeating Truly by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3 for trainer Leah Vandervort and Anatolia Racing LLC.
 
The single contest for headlining male pacers was taken in impressive fashion by Iwannabewithyou, a three-year-old altered son of Luck Be Withyou. In his 2022 debut, Iwannabewithyou quarter-moved to command for driver Todd McCarthy, then was ready to put out :54.3 - :27.1 speed coming home to reduce his mark a tick to 1:51.1 while 2¾ lengths clear of early leader Mr Butterick. Unraced since October 15, Iwannabewithyou looks worth the wait for owners Howard and Judith Taylor and trainer Dylan Davis.
 
Trainer Davis also captured the $11,200 fast-class pacing feature with the Always A Virgin gelding Virgo. Uncovered at the half, Virgo stormed up in :26.2 down the backstretch to take over entering the far turn, then could tack on a :27 kicker in stopping the timer in 1:50. Another successful Indiana transplant and now a winner of $384.472, Virgo is handled by most of Team Iwannabewithyou – Todd McCarthy drove him, Dylan Davis trains him, and Howard Taylor shares ownership in him with Davis.
 
McCarthy (who had four winners on the day in all) and Davis would combine for an even faster win in a mid-level pace, as the Mach Three gelding Ocean Ridge N strung out his opposition throughout while reducing his mile mark to 1:49.4. Davis co-owns this Kiwi import with Michael Casalino Jr.
 
The “Trottin’ Thursday” card at Harrah’s Philadelphia will be headlined by a $22,500 for veteran fast-class performers, and will have classes for all of the track’s speedy trotters, both veteran and developing. First race is 12:25 p.m; program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.      

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Fulsome was a wire-to-wire winner in the $13,000 featured pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday afternoon, stopping the timer in 1:52.4.
 
Matt Kakaley went to the lead with Fulsome going towards a :27.1 quarter, then had hounding pressure from Frank Deford, who could find no hole and had to race on the outside throughout. Middle splits of :56 and 1:23.3 ensued while those two argued for the lead, and it was only in the stretch that the victorious altered son of Betting Line could shake off that rival, then hold off pocketsitting Stormy Beach by 1½ lengths, with Frank Deford lasting very well to claim third. Joseph Eisenhower Sr. trains the winner for owner Spencer Goldin.
 
There was a pair of $12,500 co-features on the trot. In the first, the Sebastian K S gelding Kaseville enjoyed a drop in company, making two speed moves and controlling the throttle throughout in a 1:54.4 victory, defeating favorite Chucky De Vie by 1¾ lengths. Jim Pantaleano drove the Tom Gummerson trainee for the ownership of Joseph Colacecco, Mary Gummerson, and James Mc Cormick.
 
In the other top trot, Mission Voyage was successful in his first mission for trainer Jennifer Bongiorno, taking a new lifetime mark of 1:54.2. George Napolitano Jr. sent the Manofmanymissions gelding right to the lead, increasing his advantage over most of the last half despite 26 days away from the races to wind up three lengths clear of closer Meadowbranch Ricky. JB Racing, Tar Heel Racing, Jordon Sklut, and Jason Bedell own the winner.
 
Solid contests for high-class pacers will top the offerings when Pocono races its weekend cards: Saturday at 1:30, with a $27,500 feature, and Sunday at 5:00, where fast females will contest a $25,000 purse. Program pages are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.   

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Black Hawk Down took advantage of some racing luck, then came out in the stretch and powered off to a three length victory in 1:56.3 while capturing the $15,000 featured trot Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
 
Braxten Boyd moved uncovered with the Kadabra gelding off the second bend and looked doomed to the difficult uncovered journey against heavy favorite Robertsin. But late in the backstretch the pocket horse couldn’t keep the two-hole closed, and Boyd was glad to tuck his trotter in to give him a well-appreciated breather. When Boyd again moved Black Hawk Down outside for the stretch drive, he had a fresh horse – and somewhat surprisingly, he found a tired pacesetter, which made the stretch task to catch the leader fairly simple.
 
Black Hawk Downs is now two-for-four since joining the Hunter Oakes barn, and has six victories on the season. The developing trotter is owned by Elite Harness Racing LLC.
 
Andrew McCarthy deputized for his brother Todd, who was driving on the big card at Plainridge Monday, and made it a profitable afternoon for himself with four victories, including with a pair of Brett Pelling-trained two-year-old pacers: the Captaintreacherous – Acquavella colt Combustion, a $260,000 yearling who won his debut in 1:53.4, and the Downbytheseaside – Western Montana filly Charleston, perfect in two career starts after a 1:55.3 triumph. In both cases McCarthy was wearing the white colors with blue and black diamonds belonging to Diamond Creek.
 
The racing week concludes with a 1:30 program of fourteen races on Tuesday. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.      

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – My Little Captain, already a double Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner, is perfect in three career starts, all in stakes, after the two-year-old pacing filly captured the last of three $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event during the Sunday twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
 
The track had just been rerated to “sloppy” after a storm had passed through, but the daughter of Captaintreacherous – My Little Delight was unaffected by the gooey going (she had won a baby Q over a sloppy surface at Philly). Mike Wilder tucked her in fourth then reserved her until later in the backstretch, where she made a quick move to challenge pacesetting Hallelujah Hanover, got the lead in the lane, then held off Dole Whip, racing on her back, by a length, with Hallelujah Hanover finishing third in the 1:54 mile. The very promising filly is trained by Andrew Stafford for EVM Racing LLC.
 
Captaintreacherous gained a second All-Stars siring credit from Hello Yes Hi (dam Camille), who had finished a good-closing second in Beach Cowgirl’s amazing 1:50.2 Sires win at Pocono. On Sunday Matt Kalaley had her on the top at every call and drew away to win by 2½ lengths over Proud Mary in taking a maiden mark of 1:53.4, last quarter :27.3. Pocono’s leading driver Matt Kakaley drove the Ron Burke trainee for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, M1 Stable LLC, and Jack Piatt II.
 
Fastest of the three All-Stars winners was the Sweet Lou – Power Pack Hanover baby Absolute Power, who for much of the way sat in the two-hole behind favored Ginger Tree Coco, then powered home in :27.3 to take a new mark of 1:52.3, 2½ lengths to the good of the pacesetter. Scott Zeron sulkysat for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.
 
The Well Said mare Drama Act added to his statistics as one of the top moneywinners of the year by taking a $25,000 distaff handicap pace in 1:52.2 over the off going. The winner of $318,610 already this year made the top before the quarter, repulsed a good first-over challenge by Milieu Hanover, then completed her own back half in :55.1 to leave pocketsitter Shes Pukka N 2¼ lengths behind, with Milieu Hanover holding for third, another three-quarters of a length behind, Mike Wilder got the catch-drive from trainer Ron Burke for The OK Corral, whose mare has taken down $739,922 in her career.
 
There were also two $11,000 trotting events for the American Harness Drivers Club for amateur horsemen, both held before the rain. Tony Beltrami produced a mild coast-to-coast upset with Crazy About Pat in 1:57.1 in one section, while in the handicap division the AHDC joined a recent Pocono trend when the camera could not separate Walkingintherain and driver Johnathan Ahle and favored Big Nudge, guided by Anthony Verruso at the end of a 1:57.2 mile. (There have been four dead-heats to win over the last eighteen cards at Pocono.)
 
Pocono will be racing on Monday and Tuesday at 1:30 to close out this racing week. Program pages are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.      

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The two-hole trip proved to be the secret to success for many winners on a scorching Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, including P L Ozzy, successful in only his second start for trainer Dylan Davis after parlaying a pocket trip into a 1:51 lifetime mark.
 
Montrell Teague used the rail to advantage, letting only Theflyingrock get by him early and sitting right on his back through fractions of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:23.2. When the chance to become a pocket rocket appeared along the inside in the lane, the son of Sunshine Beach didn’t let anybody steal his sunshine, finding more and coming home in :27.2 to catch Theflyingrock by 1¼ lengths. Trainer Davis also owns P L Ozzy with Michael Casalino Jr. 
 
The $14,400 co-featured pace went to the Huntsville sophomore colt The Claw, making it two in a row by fighting to get the early lead and then holding the advantage to the wire in 1:53, 2½ lengths ahead of All The Chips. Andrew McCarthy guided the Jake Leamon trainee, who after not racing at two has now won half his ten career starts for Kenneth Klein, Michael Cimaglio, William Salmeri, and Stephen Demeter.
 
For the fast class pacers, there was a $13,000 event for each sex. In the section for males, Decision Day was second-over behind the dueling Blank Stare and Aflame Hanover, but since horses coming off cover were not exactly prospering on the day, driver Andrew McCarthy ducked the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding into a vacant pocket, then came along the inside to get the job done in 1:51. Bruce Saunders, the trainer of Rock N Roll Heaven, is now winning with the next generation as Decision Day boosted his bankroll to $420,695 for owner Shirley Le Vin, who has raced the seven-year-old throughout his career.
 
In the distaff division, Dance Club settled in behind insistent polesitting favorite Grace Rocks, tracked that one to the far turn, then moved outside and drew clear of the leader by two lengths while stepping her own last half in :55.2 to complete a 1:51.4 mile. George Napolitano Jr. drove the winner of $306,369 for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Owen and owner Gilbert Garcia-Herrera.
 
Aside from the exploits recorded on the timing end of the tote board, the middle part, especially where the win prices are posted, also got a big workout on the hot day. Three $50+ bombers rewarded their scattered backers: Niall Hanover ($99.80), Tru Lou ($57.80), and Vinovio ($75.40). The last-named two, winning in consecutive races (and both winning from the two-hole), were driven by Simon Allard, and locally you’d have to go back to December 2018 to find Marcus Miller winning with two longshots in the same day, and to September of that year to find Eric Carlson posting telephone numbers in consecutive races on one card. (Allard had five victories for the day, four of them after pocket journeys.)
 
When Harrah’s Philadelphia presents its next card Wednesday at 12:25, there will be a $40,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-5 bet on races five through nine; the wager was not hit for the third straight card on Sunday, with the $9762.08 carryover money helping generate the decision to offer the lucrative guaranteed pool. Program pages are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html. 

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Catch The Fire blazed to a 1:47.4 victory in the $25,000 fast-class pace on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, equaling the fastest mile of the year at The Downs first posted by American Courage three years ago.
 
Catch The Fire was sent off at 2-5 despite not having a victory in 2022 (to expand on a pre-race note of track announcer Jim Beviglia, “In his last race the winner went 1:45.4, so Catch The Fire had an excuse”), but this win was by no means handed to him. Ultimaroca left extremely fast from the rail and hung the Matt Kakaley-driven son of Captaintreacherous well past a :25.4 quarter before finally yielding for the two-hole ride. Catch The Fire then rolled on to midrace fractions of :53.3 and 1:21, nearing the latter station joined by J M Mandamin, who made a challenge but could not sustain it though finishing second, 3½ lengths behind the winner and three-quarters of a length ahead of third-place Ultimaroca.
 
Catch The Fire, whose mark of 1:47.2 was taken at The Meadowlands last year, on Saturday came within four-fifths of a second of the five-eighth mile track all-time standard of 1:47, reached here three times, once by Sweet Lou and twice by Always B Miki, who also reached that clocking at Scioto. Todd Luther trains the career winner of $1,361,274 for Black Magic Racing LLC and CT Stables LLC.
 
As noted, Catch The Fire equaled the Pocono seasonal standard for pacers of 1:47.4; one of the trotters tied for top in that column is Storm Is Raging, who during his current five-race winning streak at Pocono turned in a 1:52.1. In a $17,500 co-feature Saturday the altered son of Explosive Matter “only” had to go in 1:52.4, putting down fractions of :28, :57.1, and 1:24.2 en route to a 5½ length triumph over Baldaquin under the guidance of Matt Kakaley, who added to his meet-leading win total with four victories for the day’s honors. Trained by Ron Burke, Storm Is Raging is owned by Carl Cocciolone, Mark Sosovicka, and Jack Piatt III, and it is significant to note that he pushed his earnings of $101,119, winning his way out of this class and promising contests against tougher foes.
 
In the pacing co-feature on a hot day, an oppositely-named horse to Catch The Fire, Casual Cool, proved dominant as well, making the lead and setting fractions of :26.2, :55.1, and 1:22.3 en route to a 1:49.4 success. Jim Pantaleano won with the American Ideal gelding in this class for the second straight week, with the pacer upping his lifetime bankroll to $529,190; Daniel Renaud is the trainer of Casual Cool for Dune Road Stables LLC.
 
On Sunday’s 5 p.m. card at Pocono, there will be three $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All Stars event for two-year-old pacing fillies, and a $25,000 fast-class distaff pace. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.  

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
BEDFORD PA – The three-year-old trotting filly Heart Matters trotted in 2:00.3 at the Bedford County Fairgrounds in this southcentral Pennsylvania city on Friday during Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes action, altering the divisional record and coming within a fifth of the local all-age trotting standard.
 
Heart Matters, a daughter of Explosive Matter, eclipsed the sophomore filly mark of 2:01.1 set by A Little Laid Back in 2016, and missed by just a tick the all-age record of 2:00.2 set by OMG Hanover, coincidentally the same day A Little Laid Back had altered the Bedford record book. The win was not unexpected for Heart Matters – she had won her only fair start and also has a Stallion Series victory on her lines – but a track record performance is always a fine one. Todd Schadel trains and drove the winner for himself, his wife Christine, and Rick and Regina Beinhauer.
 
The blue-and-white-clad horseman won five times on the day, including posting the fastest clocking of 1:57.3 with the Always B Miki colt Buchannon Hanover in his “A” Fair Sire Stakes event. Also enjoying another top day was the 29-year-old Scotsman Hugh O’Neil, who had never won a race in his life until 23 days ago with Grey Skies, and whose win with that Western Ideal filly not only made her one of the few three-time winners on the “A” circuit but also helped O’Neil in posting three wins on the Friday card, boosting him to fourth in the overall fair seasonal driving standings.
 
Thursday’s Bedford racing was for the two-year-olds, with the fastest mile on the day going to the Heston Blue Chip – Ashlee’s Star pacing gelding Blue Ashes, 2:01.4, in a “B” PaFSS event. Steve Schoeffel trains the winner for Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, and Brady Brown. The driver of Blue Ashes was Aaron Johnson, who tied for day’s sulky honors for three with James Dodson, who posted a consecutive triple in the second half of the card.
 
Todd Schadel drove six winners to lead at the meet; tied in second with three were the aforementioned Dodson, Johnston, and O’Neil. Schadel’s barn sent out seven victorious horses, but the smaller operation of trainer Mitchell York also had a great two-day stand, winning four times.
 
The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit next travels to the Silver Springs Ranch training center near Pocono for a 2-day event, with racing this coming Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. and entries to be sent in by 10 a.m. Tuesday. After that is the heart of the Pennsylvania fair season, with no fewer than ten stops during the month of August.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
​​CHESTER PA – The developing Andover Hall sophomore trotting filly Newell Place took her second straight start at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon, stopping the timer in 1:55.4 on a hot day.
 
Come-from-behind horses are usually disadvantaged over the speed-favoring Philly oval, but fortunately no one has explained this to Newell Place – never better than fifth on her charted lines at the quarter, the three-year-old moved up in the second half while second-over behind good cover, moved to the lead towards midstretch, then withstood the inside thrust of pocketsitter College Tuition by three-quarters of a length. Troy Beyer drove Newell Place for trainer John Calabrese and Calabrese Farms LLC.
 
The co-featured $12,600 trot winners were both trained by Lorie Davis, and co-owned by her with Paul Ray Davis Jr.; also, both winners were Explosive Matter sophomore geldings. First to come back to Victory Lane was Target Practice, who set most of the pace and held on for a 1:56 final time for his second win in a row; then it was the turn of Just The Facts, who also took control during the second quarter and came home first in 1:57.1, a new mark, under Trey Porter’s guidance.
 
The American Harness Drivers Club for amateur horsemen again paraded postward four times. John Calabrese, who trained feature winner Newell Place, drove Shaving Mug to an AHDC victory; other winners were Johnathan Ahle, who continued his recent rich vein of form with an AHDC double behind He’s Rockin Ralphie and Warrawee Total, and Mark Schullstrom with Big Stretch Mark. 
 
There will be a mix of competitive races for both upcoming stock and fast-class veterans during the Sunday card at Harrah’s Philadelphia, which begins at 12:40 p.m; there will also be a carryover of $2403.06 going into the Pick-5 bet, held on races five through nine. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.     

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Crantini won his second consecutive Pennsylvania Sire Stakes outing during the Thursday afternoon card at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:56.2, while French Wine broke his maiden while going three fifths of a second faster in capturing the other $75,816 division.
 
The International Moni – Peach Martini colt Crantini has already captured stakes at all three of Pennsylvania’s pari-mutuel tracks, with a Sire Stakes win at The Meadows and a PA All-Stars triumph at Pocono joined by the Philly mile. Scott Zeron got to the lead with Crantini in :28.3, backed the half off to :59.1, then passed the three-quarters in 1:27.3 (aided by the day’s backstretch tailwind) before outfinishing Once In A Lifetime by three-quarters of a length for trainer Megan Scran and The Stable Crantini Group while equaling his mark.
 
Though making only his second purse start, French Wine joined Crantini as a winning favorite, largely on the strength of being photoed out in 1:55.1 in his bow last Friday at The Meadowlands. Here the Bar Hopping – Creamy Mimi colt raced from far back for driver Andy Miller, moving after early splits of :28.1 and :58.2 and then going his own third panel in an amazing :26.3 to be challenging for the lead by the 1:26.1 three-quarters. French Wine kept going in the lane and was a length clear of 42-1 shot Kobe B at the finish for trainer Julie Miller and Andy Miller Stable Inc., Daniel Plouffe, Jean Christophe Plouffe, and Michael Cote Gagnon.
 
Driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Tim Twaddle combined to win two of the four $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, both with favorites and one each with the two sires who also produced Sire Stakes winners. The International Moni – Brigham Dream colt Carter Michael Deo was on best behavior and showed a good rally from the pocket to win for the first time in 1:57 for Thestable Cartermichaeldeo. Thestable MacDonaldtwaddle also paraded back the frontender Tailgate Buzz, a Bar Hopping – Twin B Alibi gelding, after the freshman won his third straight, here in 1:58.1, for owners Thestable Tailgate Buzz as their freshman became his division’s only double Stallion Series winner.
 
The Southwind Frank – Southwind Maywood colt Sir Frank is now undefeated in two starts after recording his fastest time, 1:57.2, for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Jenny Melander, and the partnership of Melander Racing Inc., Clark Stables LLC, and John Devito. The other StS section gave a clue as to why Tim Tetrick tops the drivers standings here: he was sitting third early with the Father Patrick – Prettiestgalaround colt Alonso when the leader made a break and caused the pocket horse to make an “ix”; Tetrick calmly avoided trouble, went on to the lead, and got a 1:59.1 maiden victory with Alonso for the meet’s top trainer, Per Engblom, and the  ownership of Engblom Stable LLC, Wiesman Farms LLC, and R A W Equine Inc. 
 
In a $22,500 fast-class handicap trot, the Explosive Matter gelding Scirocco Rob was let go by the crowd at a generous 10-1 – he was coming off a 3-week layoff, but he had won two of his last four starts in this class at the riverside oval. Well, now make that three-for-five, as Scirocco Rob rushed up uncovered in the last half, coming his own back fractions in :55.1 - :27.2 to complete a 1:53.1 mile where he was 1¾ lengths clear at the wire. Corey Callahan drove the winner of $687,546 for trainer Mark Silva and owner Kathleen Whitaker.
 
The racing week closes out at Harrah’s Philadelphia with a Friday card at 12:25 and a Sunday program beginning at 12:40. Program pages are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.