Pretty soon the new crop of two-year-olds will become the focus of the preparatory session throughout North America, but Tuesday morning’s qualifiers at Harrah’s Philadelphia showcased returning horses getting ready to make their mark in 2026.

The American Ideal-Fly In Style sophomore pacing filly Liberty Style, winner of the New York Sire Stakes final as a freshman, looked strong in a 1:53 qualifying victory for driver/trainer Andrew Stafford, co-owner with Bonnie Benson of Lewes, Delaware. Liberty Style moved down the back to command and came home in :27.1 in winning by nearly 11 lengths.

The amount of improvement in potential a horse can show from two to three was exemplified by the maiden Bettors Wish-Alleyesonme As pacing colt Bettor Behold, on the engine despite post eight and home in :27.2 to post a 1:54.1 win, also winning his qualifier by more than 10 lengths. If this one can put occasional behaviour problems behind him, he could be a nice one for driver/trainer Cote Keim, co-owner with Michelle Rickey of New Egypt, New Jersey.

On the trot, the dual Pennsylvania and Maryland eligible three-year-old filly Show Pony now has two winning qualifiers on her card, trotting home in :28.4 for a 1:59.3 success. Corey Callahan drove the Captain Corey-Upside Blue Chip miss, a Maryland stakes winner at two, for trainer/owner Richard Hans.

Callahan was also behind the four-year-old Sweet Lou ridgling Go Go Grasshopper, a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner at two and three and second and fourth in his Championship races, who turned in a sparkling 1:52 victory for the red-hot Joe Bongiorno barn. Go Go Grasshopper must have been thinking of his dam, Faster Faster, as he streaked home in :27 for the 7-1/4-length win.

Callahan’s double was matched by the team of driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Enrico Robinson, who combined for the fastest trotting victory, a 1:55.3 win with the six-year-old Resolve-Sensual Hall gelding Resolve To Win, who already has four wins this year from 10 starts and has earned $544,701 lifetime.

The Philly backstretch will also be abuzz Wednesday morning, when the draw for the annual Super Sunday card, featuring three $100,000 USD Invitationals and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for sophomore pacing colts, will be put together.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Liberty Style winning a New York Sire Stakes division at Buffalo Raceway last year)