On a day when favourites predominated and a horse had to be close entering the far turn to have a good chance, three-year-old stakes-winning filly Asphalt filled both those conditions and won the $18,750 feature for developing distaff pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 19.

Asphalt, the chalk off a runner-up finish in the New Jersey Classic, was rated mid-pack early by driver Jack Pelling as second choice Odds On Aces Full (George Napolitano Jr.) made two speed moves in early splits of :27.1 and :55.2, then opened some space on the field as the pocket-sitter broke midway to the 1:23 three-quarters. But Asphalt was already a steadily-advancing first-over force, and after a good stretch battle, Asphalt turned out to be three quarters of a length the more photogenic in the quick clocking of 1:50.2. Jack’s father Brett trains the seasonal winner of six of 11 for owner Margaret Dey. The daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Road Bet went over the $200,000 earnings mark on the season.

There were also two $16,667 sub-features for the developing female pacers a level below the featured distaffs, both taken by pupils of trainer Robert Cleary.

Faster by a tick was Pirate Princess, a three-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-Fool Me Again who was relentless on the first-up grind against pacesetting TH Summer Lovin (Mark Herschberger) and finished a head ahead of her tough foe in 1:52.3. Corey Callahan turned in the winning drive for owners Royal Wire Products Inc.

Trainer Cleary won the other division of this class with the Papi Rob Hanover-Frame Worthy sophomore filly Wednesday Blue Chip, who made a brush in front of the stands under the guidance of Jack Pelling and was never headed thereafter, taking a new mark of 1:52.4. The winner is owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc.

Fast-class pacing mares had their showcase in a $18,056 contest, which was taken by the Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin mare Pressure Cooker in 1:51.3. The winner was used hard early to get the front, then forced Racin Hungry (Mark Herschberger) to expend considerable energy to get by her under the wire the first time around, whereupon she was content to sit in the two-hole as the leader took more heat. Simon Allard moved the winner to the inside passing lane and had a straight path to overhaul the pacesetter for trainer Linda Toscano and the partnership of Let It Ride Stables Inc. (a feature owning double for them), Odds On Racing, and Mac Nichol. 

All of the feature race winners were the public's choice.

Having good afternoons in the horsemen’s ranks were drivers Mike Cole, who won four times, twice for trainer Jason Brewer; Simon Allard, who won three times, twice for trainer Linda Toscano; and driver Jack Pelling, who had three wins, including one for Robert Cleary, the other doubling trainer. Cleary’s other successful pupil was driven by Corey Callahan, who had two wins.

The local racing week concludes on Sunday at 12:40 p.m., with male pacers grabbing centre stage, headed by a $13,000 USD event for the fast-class veterans. Harrah’s Philly will then race the next Thursday, Friday and Sunday, then go dark for a track overhaul, reopening with racing on Friday, Feb. 10. 

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Asphalt from a previous win at The Meadows)