A variety of classes for pacing distaffs took turns in the Friday spotlight on July 25 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The quicker split of upwardly-mobile females racing in the $16,438 headliners went to the Courtly Choice mare Verity Blue Chip in 1:52.2. George Napolitano Jr. made two early moves with her to control the pace, threw a :27 third quarter in to leave the opposition well behind, then coasted home for trainer Jeffrey Smith and owner Strideline Racing.

The other division of the top feature went to the Papi Rob Hanover filly Ginger Tree Rose, who swept wide off cover on the far turn and paced to a three quarter length victory over Spicy Story while taking a new mark of 1:53.3. Patrick Ryder drove the winner for trainer Steve Cook and owners Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable and Bob Reber Jr.

Three $15,069 sections of a class for freshman pacing fillies were captured by Mama Matcha (Tall Dark Stranger – Krispy Apple), winning her debut in 1:55.3 for pilot Mark Herschberger; another daughter of Tall Dark Stranger who won in 1:55.3, Dark N Tan (dam Podium Girl), now a winner of two straight, with Jack Pelling driving; and Feisty Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover - Fit To Frame), a maiden no more after coming home in :57.2 and :28.3 in a 1:57 journey for George Napolitano Jr. The drivers of the three two-year-old winners each had three victories on the day, as did Patrick Ryder, for a four-way sharing of bragging rights.

The Captaintreacherous mare Bellucci, under fire near or on the lead the entire mile, had enough late to withstand a late charge from favoured Jett Propelled by a half length to win the $13,014 fast-class handicap pace in 1:52.4 for driver Mark Herschberger, trainer Scott Di Domenico and owner Larry Fischer.

Two divisions of the top-level claiming distaffers, racing for $10,959, were taken by Princess Arona (Jack Pelling) in 1:54, coming her own back half in :55.3, and Pasta Momma (Mark Herschberger), who like Princess Arona made a backstretch move to command in her1:53.2 triumph.

Racing resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. There was to be the final Wednesday card of the summer on July 30, but that card has been cancelled for lack of entries; the basic Philly racing is now on Thursdays and Fridays at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)