An in-form Simon Allard gave the Fort Knox gelding Tonto Returns a perfect steer to strike gold for the second straight outing, winning the $16,901 pacing feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2.

Allard, who has driven 22 winners from 80 starters over his last 10 cards of racing (27.5 per cent), took advantage of drawing inside In The Moonlight, going the opening quarter in :27.2 to seat that rival, then got a breather to the half in :57. When Stay Focused came with a full head of steam down the backstretch, Allard pushed some then let his opponent brush by, reasoning that Stay Focused’s :27 uncovered rush to the front might leave that foe a bit weakened, while he still had horse. In The Moonlight backed out of the pocket to take another shot uncovered to the 1:24.3 three-quarters, but he came up shy. In the stretch, Stay Focused did stay on, but Tonto Returns and Allard had enough pace to score a three-quarter-length victory in 1:54. 

Per Engblom trains Tonto Returns, who returned $34.60 to his backers, for owners Evans Nation, Engblom Stable and Hickory Hollow Stables.

In a $15,493 claiming handicap pace for the highest-priced selling horses on the grounds, Up The Creek was able to brush four-wide around tired outer tier horses into the stretch and run down favoured pacesetter Pink Floyd Hanover to get the big money by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1. The Bettors Delight gelding was handled by Jack Pelling for trainer Joe Bongiorno and owner Gregory Tucker.

The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Lyons Steel returned to his “favourite oval” and left a $13,380 fast-class handicap pacing field behind in 1:50.2. The winner of $956,136 set the pace then steamed home in :27.2 – and needed to to ward off the late charge of pocket-sitting Belmont Royale N by three parts of a length. Trained by Jose Ramos for BD Racing, Lyons Steel teamed with his regular local pilot Allard, giving his driver two features in his four-win day.

Bruce Baker and Raymond Burt took their respective $10,563 races for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC). Baker drove trainer Howard Birney's pacer Redding Hanover for a 1:55.3 win while Burt won with his own trainee Wilsons Vinner in 1:54.3.

Harrah’s Philly will feature more Liberty Bell stakes action this coming week, with freshman fillies of both gaits on Thursday, Nov. 6 and sophomore males on both the trot and pace during the Friday, Nov. 7 card.

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