Driver Troy Beyer proved the hot pilot on the Sunday, Aug. 10 card at Harrah's Philadelphia, visiting the winners circle on five occasions, including with Express Pac in the co-featured $16,438 conditioned trot.

The Six Pack-Express Justice mare Express Pac sat third through :27.2 and :57.1 fractions, then was put into grinding mode just past the half by Beyer. She advanced through three-quarters in 1:25.4, worked to the lead inside the last eighth of a mile, then staved off the late rush of Webflow (Niko Karna) by a neck while lowering her lifetime mark to 1:55.3. Demarara Hanover (Simon Allard) finished third. Jason Johnson conditions the winner for Calcutta Stable LLC. The four-year-old won for the first time in eight starts this year.

Beyer also won with Misty Blue ($23.40), Coligny Hanover ($4.20), Social Drinker ($7), and Joemikiyoursofine ($4.20). He is now tied for fourth in the local win standings.

Knockout Round, who showed lines in Grand Circuit competition, found Sunday’s company more within his abilities, winning the $16,438 co-featured pace in 1:50.2. After brushing past the quarter in :26.3 and fronting the field through fractions of :54.4 and 1:22, he continued on strongly to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Inflation Proof (Allard) was second, followed by Doncic (Jonathan Ahle). Mark Herschberger drove the winning Sweet Lou-Cant Stop Me Now sophomore gelding for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Micki Rae Stables LLC and Riverview Racing LLC. Knockout Round is one-for-seven this season.

The top claiming pacers on the grounds went to the gate in a $15,068 handicap event, with the Sunshine Beach-Carolina Angel gelding Coligny Hanover rewarding the fans’ faith in him as he won for the third straight time, here in 1:52.3. Despite stepping up in class, Coligny Hanover had more than enough for Beyer, meet-leading trainer Izzy Estrada, and owner Estrada Racing LLC. High Impression (George Napolitano Jr.) finished second, two lengths back of the winner, followed by One Of The Guys (Herschberger).

In a $15,068 contest for freshman pacing males, the Always B Miki-Twin B Captivating colt Twin B Thriller was moved out of the pocket nearing the three-quarters by driver Mike Cole, paced to the lead in the stretch, then stayed clear of closing favourite Mick Steamy (Jack Pelling) by 1-1/2 lengths to take a maiden mark of 1:56. Mardi Gras Man (Ahle) was third. Kevin Lare trains the winner, who kicked home in :27.2, for owner James Fleming. 

A pair of $10,274 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) races were won by the Izzy Estrada-trained pacer Mr Joe Cool with Yogi Sheridan driving for the 1:54.1 score and Flying Tiger with Michael Shults aboard his own trainee in a 1:57.3 mile.

A marathon 16-race card will open the week this coming Thursday at Philly, with $237,566 USD in stakes purses on the line as two-year-old pacing males conduct their third round of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes preliminaries. There will be two divisions of Sire Stakes and five Stallion Series contests. The freshmen faring best in their Sire Stakes prelims will be back at Philly on Friday, Sep. 5 to contest the $300,000 USD Championships. The Thursday card will also have a carryover heading into the fifth-race Pick 5 pool.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia & AHDC)