Up-and-coming horses of both gaits were featured on Thursday, Oct. 31 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with a pair of $17,361 paces co-featured with two $16,667 trots.

On the pace, both winners lowered their lifetime best by exactly two seconds. The faster was the American Ideal sophomore colt Dealers Turn, who made two speed moves to control the pace and then darted home in :54.4 to stop the timer in 1:51.1. Corey Callahan was in the sulky for trainer Tom Fanning and owners Howard Taylor and Falcon Racing LLC.

In the other sidewheeling section, another sophomore son of American Ideal, the gelding American Warrior, made a strong backstretch move to  take command nearing the far time en route to victory in 1:52.4. Simon Allard drove the winner for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and owners Sundance Stable LLC and Kim Chiaramonte Sears.

In the quicker of the two headline trots, the Muscle Mass three-year-old gelding Alexander raced for the second-time for trainer/driver Pat Lachance; he was also second-time Lasix and second-time since coming in from Canada. Here he put it all together to never look back in a 1:56.2 lifetime best for owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.

In the other top trot, 77-years-young Jacqueline Ingrassia hustled the Cantab Hall gelding Fore And After away quickly then yielded to sit the pocket ride behind Koriander Sisu S, who was making his first U.S. start. The Sweden shipper held well but couldn’t resist the inside late move of Fore And After, who put a neck up on the money in 1:58.2 to record his fourth win in his last five starts. The Frank Ingrassia trainee is co-owned by the driver along with Donna Franchetti.

The track’s leading driver, Tim Tetrick, added to his lead by bringing home three winners on Thursday.

The Liberty Bell stakes series wraps up its 2024 action at Philly this weekend. Friday’s card, which will have a special post time of 2:30 p.m. to try to catch some “cross-action” from fans coming to witness the first day of the Breeders Cup weekend, will feature a stake for two-year-old pacing colts (along with a carryover into the seventh race Pick 3 wager); Sunday’s 12:40 program will have sophomore fillies of both gaits battling it out for the big feature money.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)