Backseat Terror captured her fifth consecutive victory in the $17,000 featured distaff pace on Friday afternoon (June 28) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but she was fully extended to hold off Rob Them Blind by a head in 1:51.4.

Hurrikane Shorty took the field to the first station in :26.4, with driver Corey Callahan on the move with Backseat Terror. The daughter of Western Terror establishing command long before the :55.4 half, before favourite Newsday applied strong pressure to the 1:23.1 three-quarters and others joined the battle in the stretch.

Rob Them Blind gapped slightly from second-over, but found her best strides in the stretch and made the leader do her best work. Backseat Terror responded, holding off that rival to the finish. Hurrikane Shorty was third, Cardiff was fourth up the inside, and even Newsday was beaten only a length in fifth.

Backseat Terror, winless at two and three, now has seven victories and $76,386 amassed already this year for trainer Katricia Adams and owner John Barnard.

The Friday co-features were a pair of $16,000 trots. In the first, the Trixton sophomore filly Starita followed the cover of Navarone Hanover on the backstretch, and then — despite 29 days off — passed her to win by a half length. The time of 1:53.4 was a new mark for the Joe Holloway trainee, driven by David Miller for owners Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz.

In the other sub-feature section, the Muscle Massive gelding Massive Opulence came first-over, trotted past favoured pacesetter Boxing Gloves, and drew clear of that rival by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.2. Steve Smith was in the sulky for trainer Bill MacKenzie and owners Scott Woogen and Brenda Messenger.

(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)