The three-year-old stakes-winning filly Asphalt took on older foes for the second Friday in a row in the $17,808 fast-class handicap pace for pacing females at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and although taking a while to gain command, she left no doubt of her superiority with a 1:50.3 victory.

Jack Pelling got Asphalt away outside in third as Pressure Cooker (Simon Allard) took over early command from Remy Brown N (Johnathan Ahle), and when the latter kept the hole closed behind the leader, Asphalt got into the front-end mix past the :26.2 quarter and made the lead under the wire the first-time. But she soon found the pesky Remy Brown N outside of her, forcing her to go to the half in :55 and the three-quarters in 1:22.3 before the first-over foe faded. Pressure Cooker, after enjoying a fine journey before the duellers, took her shot in the stretch and raced well, but Asphalt enjoyed a length advantage at the wire. Pasta Delight (Tony Morgan) took third.

Pelling's father, Brett, trains the seven-for-12 seasonal winner, a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover and Road Bet, for owner Margaret Dey of Allentown, New Jersey.

There was a pair of $16,438 sub-features for up-and-coming horses on the afternoon program. The contest for pacing distaffs went to the In The Arsenal-Symphony In Motion filly Neils Diamond, who took a lifetime mark of 1:52.3 despite a tough two-move trip. Simon Allard got the three-year-old to the lead with an uncovered move around the far turn and the pair held off late-closing favourite, Pirate Princess, who was hindered by traffic woes, by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Jeffrey Smith and the partnership of Joseph Jannuzzelli and Steven and Joseph Williams.

In the trotting sub-feature, Im Early Hanover, winner of three of his last five, darted out to command, but Clear For Landing, winner of three straight before miscuing last time, soon went up to challenge, and the latter took over just past quarter. This pair went 1-2 around the racetrack, with the Tactical Landing-Claire Michelle sophomore gelding Clear For Landing unthreatened in the lane while reducing his mark to 1:55.2. Simon Allard completed a sweep of the sub-features with the victory for trainer Per Engblom and Consus Racing Stable.

The feature-winning drivers, Pelling and Allard, also were the day’s biggest winners in total number of victories with three each.

Harrah’s Philly will stage a live 12:40 p.m. card on Sunday, featuring racing for all manner of upper-class pacing males. After that program, the track will go dark for live racing until Friday, Oct. 10 so that the racing surface may receive some refurbishment. Simulcasting will be open at the southeast Pennsylvania oval during the "dark" period. 

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