“Trottin’ Thursdays” returned to Harrah’s Philadelphia on April 17, with the $20,833 fast-class trot going to the Resolve gelding Resolve To Win, the third successful collaboration of the day between driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jeff Cullipher, and the ownership of Pollack Racing LLC. 

Resolve To Win, a winner of two straight and four of his last five, made the front end mid-first turn and put down splits of :27.4, :57, and 1:25.4. Several horses contended in the lane – Chapheart, off three straight wins at Dover, holding gamely first-over; pocketsitter College Tuition, first or second in all seven 2025 starts; and the third-in mare Chake in her 2025 bow – but Resolve To Win lived up to his name and 1-5 odds to win in 1:55, with Chapheart second, just a neck behind, and Chake and College Tuition not far off in the next two spots respectively.

The $18,750 co-featured trot was taken by the Greenshoe gelding Loranga, who was moved to the lead early by driver David Miller and was able to avoid last-half clogging in the outer tiers, maintaining his advantage nicely to the end of the 1:56.2 mile. Jenny Melander conditions Loranga for Friendship Stables LLC.

In one of two $16,667 trots, My Degenerate, a Muscle Hill gelding who set a Philly track record of 1:53.1 at two, made his sophomore debut a victorious one as he won in 1:55. Andy Miller successfully quarter-moved with My Degenerate and had a good lead much of the last half, then was tapped late by Miller to keep his mind to business as he won for trainer Julie Miller — like Andy part of Team Orange Crush — and the combine of Knutsson Trotting, Lindy Farms of Connecticut, Preferred Equine Marketing, and Andy Miller Stable.

In the other section, Deville Hill, a son of What The Hill, was sent right to the front by driver David Miller and enjoyed an open margin most of the way, holding off a late charge from pocket-sitter Run Beckus Run by three quarters of a length in a 1:58 mile. Paul Stafford Jr. trains the four-year-old for owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.

There will be racing on Friday at 12:25 p.m., with the well-sponsored trio of Show Me, Modigliani S, and Greenma all coming off wins as they appear to be the main contenders in the $12,000 USD featured event. Harrah’s Philadelphia will then be dark in observance of Easter Sunday. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at phha.org.

(with files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia; photo of Resolve To Win from a previous race)