What started as a rainy and gloomy day at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 11 became only worse, to the point that the last four races on the scheduled 14-race program were cancelled. The fast-class pacing horses got their events rained out, but two conditioned paces for developing males splashed around the track before the abandonment of the rest of the races.

The Captaintreacherous-Sweet Diamond three-year-old colt Captain Brunson ($13.60) appeared to have no objection to the foul conditions, taking the $19,286 feature in 1:53.4 for driver George Napolitano Jr. The winner tucked third amidst an early dogfight, then came back out on the second turn and brushed to command just past the midpoint. From there Captain Brunson could not be caught in a :56 back half, with In The Moonlight (Simon Allard) fighting doggedly on but coming up a half-length shy. Talbot Andretti (Jack Pelling) was third. Andrew Harris conditions the winner for Punisher 11 Stable LLC.

Lous Rodeo ($3.80), an altered sophomore son of Sweet Lou-Rodeo Rosie, paced his own last half in :56.4, circling off cover to take the $17,143 sub-feature in 1:54.4, just a tick off his mark despite the adverse conditions. The gritty two-mover B Sirius (Geovany Hernandez) did well but had to settle for the deuce, half a length behind the winner. Sweet Pete Pv (Troy Beyer) took the show spot. Patrick Ryder had the catch-drive for trainer Travis Kolaczynski and owner Jeff Dauplaise.

Despite only 10 races, drivers Mark Herschberger and George Napolitano Jr. both reported home first three times. Herschberger guided both success stories of the only doubling trainer, Deborah Daguet.

The forecast is for much better conditions when Philly conducts its next live card Thursday at 12:25 p.m., with the usual strong array of “Trottin’ Thursday” high-class horses entered to go.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)