New Jersey stakes-winning sophomore filly Car Keys had to clear some traffic trouble in a very contested $19,718 fillies and mares conditioned pacing feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 25, but she was steered to a flowing lane by driver Patrick Ryder and got the job done as the favourite in 1:52.2.

Car Keys, starting from post six in a field of seven, settled for the pocket behind an early :27.3 quarter, which became third-in position as a foe went on to clear well before the :55.4 half. The outer tier was in high gear passing the pylon-sitters down the back, with Ryder able to get to the two-wide passing lane going towards the 1:23.4 three-quarters. Dominican Sunshine (Corey Callahan, a 23-1 shot part of the lively backstretch train, took the lead into the stretch, but Car Keys was able to shift to high gear and went past the longshot at the finish line, winning by half a length. Lenna (Jonathan Ahle) close from the backfield to finish four lengths back in third.

A winner of three of her last four starts (the loss was a good third in the New Jersey Classic), Car Keys is trained by Patrick’s father Chris for owners Margaret Dey of Allentown, New Jersey and Matthew Stolte of Monroe Township, New Jersey. The Always B Miki-Road Bet filly now sports a career record reading 6-8-3 from 24 starts with more than $290,000 in earnings.

In the $16,901 co-feature for developing distaffs, the Cattlewash-Ivana Flyebye N sophomore filly Aardies A Wash made it two straight since coming here from Canada, hitting the wire in 1:53.4. Driver George Napolitano Jr. did well to hold the filly together as she took the odd rough step entering the first turn seeking the lead, made the top of the quarter and held sway the rest of the way, with two-hole favourite Kissin In The Dark (Jonathan Ahle) narrowing in gradually late but coming up a head shy. Petter Engblom trains the winner for M T Stables Ontario Inc. of Scarborough, Ont.

There were also two $16,901 pacing events for two-year-olds, one for each sex. In the event for males, Somehriznsomewhere and No Easy Touch were the two favourites, in that order. Somehriznsomehere (Patrick Ryder) got to the front and set most of the pace, but No Easy Touch, who worked out a pocket trip, was able to come up the inside for driver Troy Beyer and catch the chalk by a quarter-length while establishing a maiden mark of 1:54.2. Linda Toscano trains the winning Bettors Wish-Drop The Ball gelding for Let It Ride Stables of Boca Raton, Florida, South Mountain Stables of Millburn, New Jersey, Hutchison Harness of North Ridgeville, Ohio and CT Stables of Washington Court House, Ohio.

Among the fillies, the Captaintreacherous-Bet On Sunday miss Treacherous Bet, a solid cheque-getter in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition, made her first start for trainer Ron Burke a successful one while taking a new mark of 1:55.1. Her 1-9 backers had a few anxious moments as Treacherous Bet raced in mid-pack until swinging wide off the far turn, whereupon Simon Allard got a good closing burst out of her to catch pacesetter Ponytail Pete (Jim Marohn Jr.) by a length for the ownership of Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Knox Services of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and Frank Baldachino of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey.

Simon Allard and George Napolitano Jr. both won four races during the 14-dash Friday afternoon card; Napolitano drove both winners for the only trainer to double on the day, Dean Eckley.

Racing resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday at 12:40 p.m., with the $16,000 USD handicap pace feature gathering a group who could threaten 1:50. Then after that card, Harrah’s Philadelphia will be taking a week off from live racing, with the trotters and pacers next racing at the riverside oval on Thursday, Oct. 8. 

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)