“A Tale Of Two Quarters” is perhaps the most apt way to write a story describing the two featured paces for mares at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 11.

In the $22,222 fast-class handicap contest, the Huntsville-Burston Holme mare Jensville A started from the outside post eight and she was kept out to a :26.3 quarter by favoured Ballast (Mark Herschberger), sent off at 6-5 to Jensville A’s 8-5. But the second quarter was the one referred to in the first paragraph of this summary, as George Napolitano Jr. was able to get a :30 panel two with the Chris Height trainee, a great breather that helped his charge. Jensville A could then produce a pair of :27.2 quarters and although Ballast got to within three-quarters of a length of the winner, she could gain no more in the 1:51.2 mile, as Napolitano appeared to have the margin measured with a minimum of hand urging. Daisy Diana (N (Brett Beckwith) rounded out the top three.

Jensville A took a new mark and her 19th victory in a 50-start career. The seven-year-old mare, who is approaching the quarter-million dollar mark in career earnings, was acquired by New Jersey owner Michael Casalino Jr. in March.

In the $19,444 co-feature for developing females, Brett Beckwith made two speed moves with Harleequin A to control the throttle in early numbers of :28.2 and :57.3. Then a streak that suddenly appeared in the two-wide lane, the favoured Promising Moment (Jack Pelling), bringing about “the quarter” in this feature, giving her all to make the lead before the far turn. The always-poised Beckwith kept his filly up on the bit and popped the plugs to force his foe to pace a searing third quarter in :25.2, raw from fifth, to attain the front. The huge number did take some sting out of Promising Moment and Beckwith stayed tight until moving outside for the drive, switched the stick to the left side mainly as a reminder and won off by 2-1/4 lengths. Promising Moment held on for second while JK Pearl Stone (George Napolitano Jr.) edged out sophomore filly Tall Dark Tequila (Brad Chisholm) in the show photo.

The time of 1:51.4 earned Harleequin A, a daughter of Betting Line out of Wha Hae, a lifetime mark in her second North American start. Petter Engblom trains the promising import for the New Jersey-based Engblom Farm and Indiana's Hickory Hollow Stable. The five-year-old mare topped the $100,000 mark in earnings and now has 11 career wins from 49 starts.

Beckwith and Engblom combined again in another race to be two of several horsepeople with two victories on Friday. Other drivers were Art Stafford Jr., George Napolitano Jr., and William Carter, who drove the first of an 8-8 Late Double pair of victories for trainer Joe Bongiorno.

The other story of the Friday was, at a track where a favourite is as likely to win a race as not, there were as many first choices winning as last choices in the pari-mutuels, and there were three $50+ winners ($58, $67 and $64.60) – there have not been four in a day since those records were first tracked by the track in 2016.

Harrah’s Philadelphia also had a remembrance and short ceremony honouring those who suffered 25 years earlier to the day in the “9-11” tragedy.

Totally changing the mood, there will be another “Anniversary” to be celebrated during a special 6 p.m. card on Saturday – the 20th Anniversary of harness racing at the riverside facility in southeast Pennsylvania. There will be a revival of the Colonial and Colonial Oaks trotting stakes, a #seniditin Invitational Pace, plus a DJ on the patio, a beer garden and visits with nostalgia accumulated over the last two decades. (There will be no racing on Sunday, Sept. 13; the next live Philly card after Saturday will be on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 12:25 p.m.)

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)