The feature race winners at Harrah’s Philadelphia on “Filly And Mare Friday,” which focuses on pacers, had two things in common: they each took a lifetime mark (seven other horses lowered or equalled their mark in Friday’s 93 degree Celsius heat), and they were all guided by drivers who had multiple winners on the card.

The feature race of the program, a $18,056 fast-class distaff event, went to the four-year-old Huntsville-Strut My Stuff mare Strutsville, who won her second straight and, as noted, lowered her speed badge to 1:51.2. After early numbers of :26.4 and :55 went up on the board, Strutsville brushed from mid-pack raw down the backstretch, covering her own third split in :26.3 to flank the leader Absolute Power (George Napolitano Jr.) at the 1:22.4 three-quarters, and then drew away from the competition. Patrick Ryder drove the winner to her second successive triumph for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and owners Nancy Retzlaff and Douglas Stout of Camrose, Alta.  Neils Diamond (Simon Allard) finished 2-1/2 lengths behind in second and favoured Perfidious Crown (Anabal Borjas) was third.

In the $15,972 sub-feature for the veteran mares, the four-year-old Bettors Wish-Teachers Vet mare Wise Professor went even faster than the feature winner, and in fact the fastest clocking of the day, 1:50.4. Wise Professor was well-positioned during most of the mile, then came on to nip front-stepper Princess Stella (Mark Herschberger) by a half length for trainer Per Engblom and owner W. J. Donovan of Delray Beach, Florida. Wise Professor was driven by eight-time Harrah’s Philadelphia top dash-winner George Napolitano Jr., who went on to score six victories in all Friday. Engblom and Marc Mosher were the only trainers on the day to send out two winners and Napolitano Jr. drove all four of their horses.

Developing distaffs had their highlight contest in race one, a $16,667 event, which went to the Heston Blue Chip-Dance Hall Girl sophomore filly Andiamo in 1:52.2. Driver Troy Beyer, who opened the card with a natural hat trick, let early smoke clear then moved his charge to the lead past the quarter, and Andiamo was not threatened during a :55.2 back half for trainer Robert Cleary and the Florida-based partnership of Let It Ride Stables of Boca Raton and Lawrence Rosen of Lighthouse Point.

U.S. Hall of Fame horseman Chris Ryder was already going to have an exciting weekend, what with trainees Miki And Minnie and Twin B Joe Fresh in separate eliminations of the Roses Are Red Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park – and the excitement level has a chance to rise even higher after he won at Philly on Friday with the Captaintreacherous filly Newfound (driven by son Patrick), who set a maiden mark of 1:54.2. Ryder now has 1997 conditioning wins in the United States Trotting Association's official statistical tally, which is basically North American and begun in 1991.

Sunday’s 12:40 p.m. program at Philly will feature millionaire Maximus Miki trying to overcome the outside post six in a $16,000 USD fast-class handicap featured pace; there are plenty of other top contests for horses both established and up-and-coming.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)