Youngsters highlight Philly action

CHESTER PA – A pair of $12,000 contests, one on each gait, for horses on the ascendancy was featured at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.

KNOCKOUT ROUND REPLAY

Knockout Round, who showed lines in Adios, Meadowlands Pace, and North America Cup competition, found Sunday’s company more within his abilities, and after quarter-moving and fronting the field the rest of the way, he continued on strongly to lower his mark to 1:50.2. Mark Herschberger drove the Sweet Lou sophomore gelding for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Micki Rae Stables LLC and Riverview Racing LLC.

On the trotting side, the Six Pack mare Express Pac was put into grinding mode just past the half by driver Troy Beyer, worked to the lead inside the last eighth, then staved off the late rush of Webflow by a neck while lowering her lifetime best to 1:55.3.

Jason Johnson is the winner’s conditioner for Calcutta Stable LLC. Beyer proved the hot pilot on the Philly Sunday card, visiting the winners circle on five occasions; he is now tied for fourth in the local win standings.

EXPRESS PAC REPLAY

The top claiming pacers on the grounds went to the gate in an $11,000 handicap event, with the Sunshine Beach gelding Coligny Hanover rewarding the fans’ faith in him as he won for the third straight time, here in 1:52.3. Despite stepping up in class, Coligny Hanover had more than enough for driver Troy Beyer, meet-leading trainer Izzy Estrada, and Estrada Racing LLC.

COLIGNY HANOVER REPLAY

In an $11,000 contest for freshman pacing males, the Always B Miki – Twin B Captivating colt Twin B Thriller was moved out of the pocket nearing the three-quarters by driver Michael Cole, paced to the lead in the stretch, then stayed clear of closing favorite Mick Steamy to take a maiden mark of 1:56, shading :27.4 home. Kevin Lare trains the winner for owner James Fleming.

TWIN B THRILLER REPLAY

A marathon 16-race card will open the week this coming Thursday at Philly, with $237,566 in stakes purses on the line as two-year-old pacing males conduct their third round of preliminaries. There will be two divisions of Sire Stakes race and five Stallion Series contests the freshmen faring best in their Sire Stakes prelims will be back at Philly on Friday, September 5 to contest their $300,000 Championships. The Thursday card will also have a carryover heading into the fifth race Pick 5 pool. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia