The tote board forecast that the $19,444 featured pace for developing horses on Sunday afternoon, Apirl 27 at Harrah’s Philadelphia could come down to two horses, and the punters’ forecast was exactly right, as Twisted Destiny made a successful sophomore debut as the favourite in 1:51.2 over second choice Dublin Dasher.

A son of Bettors Wish out of millionairess Tug Rivers Princess trained by Chris Ryder for Let It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing and Enviro Stables, Twisted Destiny was reserved in fourth by driver Dexter Dunn as Dublin Dasher and Tim Tetrick took advantage of the rail and controlled solid fractions of :27.2, :55.1 and 1:23. Twisted Destiny was on the move uncovered down the backstretch and advanced alongside the leader nearing the three-quarters. The front two duelled for the entire last quarter, with Twisted Destiny just having enough in the shadow of the wire to keep his winning streak from last year going to five, including a Reynolds Stakes division and the PA Stallion Series final at two.

 The Rock N Roll Heaven-Lyons Luck gelding Lyons Steel, who took his mark of 1:48.3 here last year at the age of nine, returned to the southeast Pennsylvania oval for the first time in 2025 and promptly posted a 1:51.4 victory in the $18,056 pace for fast-class veterans. Simon Allard, who has guided the winner of more than $880,000 to many of his local triumphs, shot the pacer right to the front, and even with favoured Hunting Zone moving up early then possibly jumping a lightpole shadow on the track before taking back, Lyon Steel may have been hard to deny, setting fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.3 before his :27.1 sprint to the wire for trainer Jose Ramos and BD Racing.

 The schedule at Harrah’s Philly deviates a little from the norm this coming week as a certain Thoroughbred race in Kentucky on Saturday has prompted the track to put on a special live program of Standardbred racing beginning at noon; this Thursday will be dark in “compensation.” The normal schedule of Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m. will bookend the special live Kentucky Derby Day card. 

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Twisted Destiny winning in 2024)