Agedchedar Hanover, who sat in the pocket last week and may have been bottomed out behind lightning fractions, went back to his come-from-behind ways on Friday, Dec. 13 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, sweeping wide from third-over to beat a talented field gathered for the $21,127 fast-class pace in 1:52.2 with the mercury just above freezing.

A Rocknroll Star, winner of last week’s feature, made two early moves for Brett Beckwith to set the pace with splits of :27.3, :55.4, and 1:23.4, with Virgo (Simon Allard) looming in the pocket. Ridge Warren had the victorious Betterthancheddar gelding well off the pace, then sent him three-wide late on the turn and got enough rally from him to defeat Virgo along the inside by half a length, with Teddy Disco A (Tim Tetrick) blasting from last to be third ahead of A Rocknroll Star in a finish that saw these four within a length of each other at the wire.

Jake Leamon trains the winner, who — after going winless in 2023 here — posted his ninth success of this year for owner Dona McDonald.

Philly closes its racing week on Sunday, Dec. 15 with a 12:40 p.m. post time; there will be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 wager. The last two weeks of the year, Harrah’s changes to a Friday-Sunday-holiday Tuesday schedule; Friday’s first race will go at 12:25 and Sunday’s at 12:40, but on Christmas Eve the action will start at noon, and the final card of 2024 will begin at 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. 

(with files from Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Agedchedar Hanover from a previous win)