Knockout Round had the most punch late to win the $18,750 feature for up-and-coming male pacers in 1:51 during a Sunday afternoon, Sept. 7 card at Harrah’s Philadelphia where the track condition improved from “sloppy” at the start to “good” and then to “fast” for the bulk of the racing.

Driver Mark Herschberger was originally named on second choice Knockout Round and favoured Rockin James, and his choice was a winning choice. Rockin James, with Troy Beyer catch-driving, stepped around Knockout Round early in a :26.3 quarter, backed off the half to :56, didn’t encounter much pressure to a 1:24.1 three-quarters, then braced for the late move of the potential pocket rocket.

Rockin James stepped home in :26.4 himself, but that late speed, which would win him most races, was not enough to stall the victorious sophomore Sweet Lou-Cant Stop Me Now gelding, who went by and had a quarter-length advantage at the wire while kicking home in :26.3. Tony Alagna conditions Knockout Round, who had been facing top-drawer stakes company earlier in the summer, for Micki Rae Stables and Riverview Racing.

A $16,667 pace for developing males just below the feature’s level was won by the Captaintreacherous-Acquavella three-year-old gelding Combative, who made the lead early, rated the pace, then held off pocket-sitter Heaven Needs Me and Herschberger while pacing a :27.1 last quarter in a 1:52.4 mile. George Napolitano guided the winning Joe Pavia Jr. trainee for the partnership of Steven Held, Pint Size Racing, John Whitig, and Donald Kayser.

A cagey drive by Corey Callahan helped $1.7 million earner Hellabalou to victory in the $15,278 fast-class pace in 1:50.4. Outleft to both sides from post two, Callahan never went to the rail, holding his two-wide position until after early fireworks cleared, then brought the veteran son of Sweet Lou-Magestic Blue Chip to the lead in front of the stands. In the stretch, foes charged at the leader from both sides, but he held his ground well to the finish, with Mamba and JAck Pelling coming up the rail to be second, decisioning Bettor Not Talk and Beyer in the photo for the deuce. Ron Burke, continuing his big Pennsylvania weekend, conditions the seven-year-old pacer for Burke Racing Stable, Phil Collura, Weaver Bruscemi and Lawrence Karr.

There was also a pair of $15,278 paces for the highest-priced claimers at the track ($27,778 to $34,722), both contested when the track was “sloppy.” The faster went to the Custard The Dragon-Bin N Heaven gelding Angelo, now an 11-time winner on the season after recording 10 victories last year, winning on Sunday in 1:52 for driver Pelling, trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner P T Stable. The other was taken by the 8-1 shot Perfect Promises, rallying from the pocket to catch the pacesetter Hello Gorgeous and Beyer in 1:52.3 for driver  Herschberger, trainer Clay Faurot Jr., and owners Chelsey Faurot and Christina Bayley.

Eight-time leading Philly win driver (and four-time UDR king), George Napolitano Jr. was the biggest winner on the day with four visits to the winner's circle. 

The current meet’s leading trainer, Izzy Estrada, sent out three winners, including the sophomore McWicked-Jet Wash gelding Rose Run Astro in a $10,417 pace for the American Harness Drivers Club with Yogi Sheridan guiding him to a 1:55.4 rebound score.

The other division for amateur drivers was won by 10-year-old Fred And Ginger-Nightlife gelding Freds Night, who pulled off a 23-1 upset in 1:54.1 with Frank Tsipouras in the sulky for trainer Salvatore Sciarrino.

Racing resumes on Thursday at 12:40 p.m. with the traditional “Trottin’ Thursday” card of talented diagonal-gaited performers.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)