Knockout Round just had too much power for his opposition in the $18,750 pacing feature for developing horses on Sunday afternoon Sept. 14 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the Tony Alagna-trained sophomore winning his second straight at this level, here in 1:50.4.

Knockout Round led at every call in the featured race, leaving the gate swiftly enough for driver Mark Herschberger to force Chief Bogo (George Napolitano Jr.) to go into the two-hole, where he sat as the winner put up fractions of :27, :56 and 1:23. Chief Bogo came out to try the winner in the stretch, but Knockout Round had too much pace in reserve, winning by three-quarters of a length for the ownership of Micki Rae Stables and Riverview Racing. The improving Sweet Lou-Cant Stop Me Now gelding has now won three of his last four trips behind the gate. Idealofaday (Corey Callahan) rounded out the top three five lengths behind.

Pack A Punch, continuing the theme of the names of the feature winners, stayed on between horses to get the lead at the quarter, then had enough to turn away all challengers in the $16,667 co-featured pace for up-and-comers. The sophomore Tall Dark Stranger-Power Pack Hanover gelding established a new lifetime mark of 1:51.2 after laying down splits of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23. Americagreatagain (Troy Beyer) enjoyed a two-hole trip but still was three parts of a length shy of Pack A Punch, who was driven by George Napolitano Jr. for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and his brother, owner John. Shakas Pride (Corey Callahan) closed from the backfield to show.

In both $$15,278 divisions of the top claiming handicap pace, there were duels between leaders and horses attempting quarter-moves who could not clear the front-steppers, making for fast paces and horses to take advantage of good trips. The faster of these events was won by the four-year-old McWicked-Waasmula gelding T H McMurry, who gained behind wicked splits of :26.2, :54.1, and 1:22.1, then went wide in the lane and was along for driver Corey Callahan while taking a new mark of 1:50.4. Trainer Todd Warren co-owns the winner of four of his last five starts with Lester Peters.

In the other claiming cut, the seven-year-old JK Endofanera-Lucky Amy gelding T Js Indy Pacer sat in the two-hole behind argued fractions of :26.2, :54 and 1:22.2, then went to the inside, and his late effort put him a nose ahead of Odds On Liquidity (Corey Callahan), who came charging home out wide to make the battle for first very interesting. Mike Cole was in the sulky behind the winner of two of his last three races for trainer Mike Terpolilli and owner Mayra Palma.

George Napolitano Jr. won the last four races on the card to take the sulky crown for the day, and now has 17 winners in his last five appearances at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia resumes on Thursday with a 12:25 p.m. start. The usual strong card of Philly’s “Trottin’ Thursday” will be featured, as will simulcasting of the Little Brown Jug card. There will be a carryover into the first race Superfecta.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)