Pocono invader Shoobee Doo A  came to Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 1) saddled with the far outside post eight do to his $50,000 claiming tag, but that wouldn't matter as he romped to a mild 7-1 upset in the $16,216 conditioned pace which headlined the card.

Driver Johnathan Ahle had the gelded son of Shoobee’s Place humming away once the gate sprung, and hit the quarter four lengths to the good in a sizzling :25.1. The horse opened his advantage to seven lengths in a :52.4 half and to eight lengths by the 1:20.1 three-quarters, with no one able to mount any kind of threat. Shoobee Doo A won by 6-3/4 lengths over Lyons Steel, who did his best to keep pace in the loose pocket throughout, with favoured Jack’s Shadow N next in distant line. 

Shoobee Doo A was claimed two back for a tag of $40,000 at Pocono by LAV Racing Stable Inc. and trainer Darren Taneyhill. A career earner of over $550,000, Shoobee Doo A has won 13 of 30 on the season, hitting the board in 23 of those efforts.

In a $16,216 trot for developing stock, the Cantab Hall sophomore filly Kellys Greatest sat behind the favorite Je Suis Cash S, who set quick-for-these fractions of :27.3, :56.3, and 1:24.2, disposed of that one easily in upper stretch, then with stood Southwind Creme by a length in a career best 1:54.2. Ridge Warren gave the patient drive to the winner, who is trained by Geovany Hernandez for Stormi And Bruiser Stable.

Warren (who’s won eight of his last 33 drives) and Tony Morgan (second-leading active North American driver in career wins) tied at the top with three sulky successes on the card. Down Under phenom Carter Dalgety returned to his "favourite track" (19% win average at Philly) for the first time in nearly a month and doubled. Also with two wins was trainer Dean Eckley, who extended his lead in the trainer standings while clicking at a 33% rate here.

Yogi Sheridan powered down the road and Tony Beltrami pounced at the right time to take their respective $10,135 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace.

In the first division, Sheridan grabbed the point with Angelo and drew away to deliver as the 1-5 choice in 1:52.2. He clocked a :27.3 first quarter to take control and gradually scooted away from pocket-chaser Sporty Dragon (driven by Raymond Burt) moving past a :56.1 half. Accelerating to three-quarters in 1:23.2, Angelo opened five lengths on his rivals to shut the door before the straightaway, registering a 6-1/2-length win in the end. Pretty Ricki (Frank Tsipouras) tipped first over into the final turn to give pursuit in second while Sporty Dragon finished third, beaten another five lengths. Meet The Creeper (Bruno Chiodo) rode the pylons to take fourth.

Dean Eckley trains Angelo, a five-year-old gelding by Custard The Dragon, for owner Ameer Najor. He paid $2.60 to win.

Tony Beltrami took the second division when capitalizing off a pace duel with odds-on favourite Americas Guest to notch a 1:54 win.

Beltrami secured a snug seat in the pocket to leader Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras), who faced pestering company from post-eight leaver Need Ur Opinion (Yogi Sheridan) to a :26.4 first quarter. Sheridan drove on from the death seat while Tsipouras fought back to the pylons, all while Beltrami kept Americas Guest engaged through a scorching half of :54.3. Western Bayama eventually relinquished the lead into the backstretch to start his hasty retreat while Sheridan worked to keep his hard-used charge chugging moving to three-quarters in 1:23.1. With the leader on the ropes, Beltrami sent America’s Guest into action and seized the lead with ease in the stretch to then kick away to a 3-1/4-length win. Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) rallied from near last for second while Need Ur Opinion held third and Latest Attraction (Matt Zuccarello) finished fourth.

Eddie Sager trains Americas Guest, a nine-year-old gelding by American Ideal, for owner Hemlock Racing Stable Inc. He paid $3.80 to win.

AHDC action continues next Sunday (Sept. 8) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT). Sunday also features the $320,000 USD Championship card for the Pennsylvania Stallion Series in all eight divisions, for horses who earned enough points in their prelims to go for their big payday.

Racing continues at Harrah's Philly on Thursday (Sept. 5) with a first post time of 12:40 p.m. (EDT)

(With files from PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia / AHDC)