The Rockin Image gelding Topville Somrocket, shipping in to Harrah’s Philadelphia from Yonkers, did not have an easy journey, but still proved the best in the $13,500 featured pace on Thursday, April 6, winning in 1:51.4.

Southwind Pharoah outleft everybody from the outside post seven to get the lead before the :27 quarter, with Topville Somrocket on his outside and River Ness behind that one. The eventual winner cleared in front of the stands and then yielded to River Ness, who put down the middle splits of :55.2 and 1:23.1.

Driver Todd McCarthy, sensing his pacer still had a good deal of pace, vacated the two-hole midway around the far turn, and Topville Somrocket took it from there, going by in the stretch and handily defeating a resurgent Southwind Pharoah by 3-3/4 lengths for trainer Jeff Cullipher and owner Pollack Racing LLC.

McCarthy had three victories on the card, as did Tim Tetrick; Tetrick, the track’s defending driving champion, has eight successes in the first two days of the meet. Trainer Cullipher has already harnessed four winning horses at Philly this season.

The Friday, April 7 card at Harrah’s Philly, which starts at 12:25 p.m. (EDT), will feature a pair of $20,000 Open Handicaps for the top fast-class pacers in the area. Friday’s will be the last live card of this week, as Philly will not host live racing on Sunday so that the Harrah’s family can spend Easter with their families (the facility will be open for simulcasting).

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)