Macs Delight overcame a 22-day layoff, the outside post in the field of six and having to come his last half in :53.2 uncovered, but he checked all those boxes in winning the $20,548 fast-class pacing feature in 1:49 on Sunday afternoon, July 14 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The Bettors Delight gelding was reserved in fifth by driver Corey Callahan as Harrington invader Sweet Angel Boy put up early fractions of :25.4 and :54.2. Macs Delight was underway raw coming off turn two, streaked up to challenge the leader by the 1:22.1 three-quarters and looked a likely winner when he opened a clear lead nearing the lane. Sweet Angel Boy was game, however, and Macs Delight had to dig in to hang on to a neck margin at the finish for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner John.

A neck was also the winning margin in the $19,178 fast-class sub-feature pace, with the Control The Moment gelding Camara Moment proving most photogenic in 1:51.4. The winner, driven by David Miller for trainer Michael Fiumenero and owners James Burke, Mickey Sudar, Brenton Harris and Dewitt Stables, also had to attack via the uncovered route, but a back half of :54.1 was enough to let him work past pacesetter Wager On Me late.

U.S. Hall Of Famers David Miller and Tim Tetrick each won three times on the card.

Joe Lee pulled two massive upsets and Yogi Sheridan brushed and crushed to win their respective $10,274 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC).

In the lone trotting division, Lee went pillar to post with Puddin N Pie – the longest shot on the board – to win in 1:57.3. No challengers came for Puddin N Pie, who trotted on a mission through a clip of :29, :58.4 and 1:27.4. Puddin N Pie widened his lead all through the mile and strolled in a five-length winner over pocket-chaser Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan). Importer Exporter (Tony Beltrami) closed from last for third, beaten another five lengths, and Pretty Dame Speedy (Neil Glasser) settled for fourth. Howard Birney owns and trains Puddin N Pie, a 10-year-old gelding by Yankee Glide. He paid $138.60 to win.

Lee later won in the nightcap also going down the road with longshot Sports Hero in 1:53.3 to take the second division of the AHDC Pace. Sports Hero took over command to a :27.1 first quarter, slowed proceedings to a :56 half and then rebuffed a challenge from odds-on favourite Ship Wreck Beach K (Yogi Sheridan) to three-quarters in 1:24 in progress to a three-length victory. Ship Wreck Beach K held second while pocket-sitter Duckies Dynasty (Neil Glasser) faded to third and Pro Beach (Anthony Verruso) gave chase in fourth. Ivan Llopez trains Sports Hero, an eight-year-old gelding by Sportswriter, for owner Jaypaul Hoover. He paid $43.60 to win.

Although he finished runner-up in the other two AHDC events, Sheridan struck the gold in the first division of the AHDC Pace with 1-2 favourite Major Makover crossing the line first in 1:55. Sheridan sat third with Major Makover while Freds Night (Frank Tsipouras) pushed to the lead past a :27.2 first quarter and then crawled to a :57 half. With the speed settling, Sheridan activated his charge and swooped to the lead up the backside, clicking by three-quarters in 1:25. Major Makover stayed strong on the lead through the lane then to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Ollies Ztam (Kyle Walters) closing into second. Paduka N (Anthony Verruso), after leaving the gate and staying close to the speed, finished third and Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) took fourth. Izzy Estrada trains Major Makover, a six-year-old gelding by Art Major, for his Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $3 to win.

AHDC action continues at Harrah’s Philadelphia next Sunday, July 21.

Racing resumes on Wednesday, July 17 with the second prelim round for two-year-old pacing fillies in both the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series set to get underway at 12:25 p.m.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia / AHDC)