Near-freezing temperatures and a strong stretch headwind did not make for a good day for speed horses on “Trottin’ Thursday” at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Dec. 11, but the two feature winners fronted their fields through most of their respective races.

The top-purse event, an $18,750 conditioned contest for developing trotters, was won by the three-year-old altered son of Propulsion-Temple Ruins, The Brodster. Ridge Warren wanted front-end control with the sophomore, and the pair drew farther and farther clear most of the last half, with Yardbird (Patrick Ryder) 5-1/4 lengths behind at the finish as The Brodster won his third race in his last four trips behind the gate in 1:55.3. Trump The Warrior (James Kennedy) was third. Per Engblom conditions the winner for Engblom Stable LLC and Evans Nation. The Brodster, now five-for-26 lifetime, returned $3.20.

The five-year-old Muscle Mass-Crystal Gumdrop gelding Cassius Hanover stepped up in company and produced his second straight victory, mastering the $18,056 conditioned fast-class trotters from the outside post six in 1:55.4. Favoured Te Amo Lindy (George Napolitano Jr.) yielded to the eventual winner at the quarter to sit in the two-hole, but his late charge up the inside fell a quarter-length short as Cassius Hanover dashed home in :29.2, the day’s co-fastest last quarter. Super Duper Cooper (Simon Allard) finished third. Johnathan Ahle piloted Cassius Hanover for trainer Emily Bost, who co-owns the gelding with R K 4 Racing. The 20-time winner in 92 starts returned $8.

Simon Allard and George Napolitano Jr. both had three driving successes on the card. Napolitano, eighth on the all-time dash-winning list and sixth among active drivers at 12,872 victories, has now recorded four straight Philly driving days with three winners. He is second in the local standings, and Allard is third, behind leader Tim Tetrick.

To complete its racing week, Philly has cards on Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m. For the last two holiday weeks of the year, Philly will host live racing on a Friday-Sunday-Wednesday schedule, with Fridays at 12:25 p.m. and Sundays at 12:40 p.m. as usual, but the special pre-holiday Wednesdays will have special post times: Christmas Eve at noon, and New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m.

(With files from Harrah's Philadelphia)