The Creatine gelding Take All Comers won the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon in 1:50.4, only two ticks shy of the divisional track and world record and the all-age standard at Philly.

Tim Tetrick got the veteran away second behind Pappardelle, who posted stinging fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:22.4. No one was anxious to test the leader but finally heavy favourite Its Academic swung out on the far turn, with Tetrick pulling Take All Comers out just soon enough to force Its Academic three-wide without losing momentum. Through the stretch, the main battle came down to the pacesetter and the pocket-sitter, with Take All Comers edging Pappardelle by a head. Its Academic was another three-quarters of a length behind in third.

Jim Campbell trains the $579,093 earner Take All Comers (pictured above) for Runthetable Stables.

The 1:50.4 win time was just shy of the track and world record set by Hillexotic in the Maxie Lee Trot at Philly on May 28; Market Share also holds a share of the local all-age standard of 1:50.2.

If racing off of cover was a bit of an unusual trip for Tattoo Artist, the winner of $2.2 million adjusted quickly to it, swinging wide and powering home to take the $18,000 handicap pacing feature in 1:48.2, only two-fifths of a second off the divisional track record.

Ultimaroca blasted down the road in scorching fractions of :25.2, :53.4 and 1:20.2, but could not sustain that pace. Tattoo Artist moved second-over down the back behind Island Of The Sea, swung wide in the lane and powered home 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Sport Service, who had tracked the winner’s cover.

Dexter Dunn drove the victorious six-year-old son of Hes Watching for trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of Let It Ride Stable Inc., Frank Cannon, Diamond Creek Racing and Bottom Line Racing LLC.

The amateur drivers of the American Harness Drivers Club made their first 2023 appearance at Philly, and driver Newton “Yogi” Sheridan picked the perfect tactics for the local oval, putting the Andover Hall gelding Jive Ninety Five on the lead and guiding him to a new mark of 1:56.1 in defeating Winneress. Pete Pellegrino trains the winner for Ervin Peachey.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia)