Trotting filly Misspanzee and pacing gelding World Of Wishes were victorious in a pair of $16,438 contests for developing younger horses that topped the bill of fare on Sunday, June 1 at Harrah's Philadelphia. 

Team Ryder, driver-son Patrick and trainer-father Chris, had the Bettors Wish gelding World Of Wishes back to his Weiss Series prelim-winning form, scoring in 1:53.2 in the division for male pacers. World Of Wishes brushed just after Best Chip took the field to the quarter in :28.1, got a :57.3 breather to the half, passed the three-quarters still in control in 1:25.1 and maintained his advantage to the wire by a neck over closing Hotchkiss (like the winner sent off at even money; World Of Wishes was slightly favoured), with 26-1 Best Chip only a half-length behind. The winner is owned by Phillip Steinberg.

In the trotting contest, 56-1 shot Southwind Python had the lead from post eight before the eighth pole and put up fractions of :28.4, :59, and 1:27.1. Favoured pocket-sitter Bay Breeze Hanover moved outside but could make no impact. Misspanzee, who had sat third and followed the chalk out, ducked back in for the drive and just worked by the gallant potential upsetter for a half-length victory in 1:56.3. Todd McCarthy drove the successful Gimpanzee filly, now a winner of two straight, for trainer Noel Daley and owner Thaddeus Wier.

McCarthy, clicking at just over a 25 per cent clip for the year at Harrah's Philadelphia, was the dominant force on the Sunday afternoon card, also winning a pair of sub-features.

In a $15,069 handicap pace for the fast-class veterans, McCarthy used the Million Dollar Cam gelding Pat McGarry A hard to get the lead, then made sure favourite Fearful Intent paid an even higher price for the pacesetting role. McCarthy then sat in the two-hole with the winner of nearly $430,000 until midway on the far turn, where he moved to challenge, and the pair wore down the leader by a neck in 1:51 for trainer Joe Bongiorno and owner Howard Taylor.

The top claiming handicap pacers at Philly also went for a $15,069 purse, a race won by the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Hervey Hanover, who has now won four of his last six after a 1:52.1 triumph in which he won by 4-3/4 lengths. It was McCarthy again in the sulky behind the favoured winner of more than $370,000 for trainer Per Engblom and owner Daniel Sarafian.

In addition to McCarthy’s heroics, drivers Mark Herschberger and David Miller had doubles, as did trainer Izzy Estrada. Estrada’s double also gave him joint top spot in the conditioners derby at 13 wins with Trond Smedshammer.

Racing resumes at Philly on “Trottin’ Thursday” with a 12:25 p.m. card, with this week’s emphasis on the fast-class type as they race for $14,000 USD and $13,000 USD in the featured events. The rest of next week’s cards will be on Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m. 

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)