Both Island Of The Sea and Hot Mess Express were “pocket rockets” as they won the $16,200 featured paces on a hot Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Island Of The Sea drew inside his main opposition in the event for males, and driver Todd McCarthy took full advantage of his positioning, keeping favoured Sport Secret out to a :26.3 quarter while forcing several other contenders in behind. The victorious Always A Virgin gelding sat in the two-hole through middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.1, popped up going to the far turn to challenge, took over the lead in the lane, then held off two-mover A Rocknroll Star by a head while taking is lifetime earnings to $390,120 for trainer Eric Ell, co-owner with Lisa Ell. His winning time was 1:50.3.

The Panther Hanover mare Hot Mess Express boosted her lifetime tally to $911,415 with a 1:51.1 success, making her two-for-two since arriving at Philly. George Napolitano Jr. got the favourite to the front before the :26.4 quarter, pushed Always B First before surrendering the lead and sitting behind mid-fractions of :54.2 and 1:22.3, then made her move and drew off to win by two lengths over In The Spotlight N for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Sam Bowie of basketball fame.

A pair of debuting two-year-old pacing colts fuelled the hopes of their connections by winning in most impressive style: both paced home in :55.1 and :26.4 after going uncovered, both are sons of Captaintreacherous and both are part of the team of driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owners Threelyonsracing. They are Lyons Benjamin (dam Square Dancer, 1:55.4) and Lyons Rock (dam Planet Rock, 1:55.1).

The Hambletonian is just over a month away and Sunday’s third preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) for three-year-old trotting colts will supply some answers for the connections of the top contenders, including all five winners in the PASS’s first two legs, all of whom will be at Philly on Sunday for the card that starts at 12:40 p.m. That program will also have a $1,964.76 carryover in the Pick-5 bet offered on races five through nine. Program pages for all races at Harrah’s Philadelphia will be available on the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association website.

 (With files from PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia; Photo of Hot Mess Express winning at The Meadowlands last month)