The American Ideal gelding Bakersfield held off a sustained bid from favourite JJ Flynn for a 1:51 win in the $14,500 featured pace at Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (July 24).

George Napolitano Jr. got Bakersfield quickly to the top from post 4 while JJ Flynn could only tuck in fourth early from post 6 as horses with inside positions defended spots behind the pacesetter. JJ Flynn came out at the half and ground up to the leader the rest of the way, but Bakersfield proved to have too much in reserve to win by a half length for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Owen and owner Gilbert Garcia-Herrera.

The featured race was also the Jackpot Hi-5 race. Even though the second choice beat the heavy favourite and the three horses behind them were 35-1, 30-1, and 20-1, there were still multiple winners, resulting in a carryover of $51,848.96 going into Thursday’s (July 25) card.

In a $14,000 co-featured pace, Captain Mulzac scored his second straight victory, winning by four lengths in a lifetime best 1:51. Captain Mulzac, trained by Tony Alagna for owner 3 Fools LLC, Francis Azur, Jim Winske and Stephen Michaels, was unraced at two, but is now six-for-eight as a sophomore. The win aboard the son of Captaintreacherous was one of five on the day for driver Tim Tetrick.

(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)