Veteran campaigner Dealt A Winner overcame a post-8 dispatch and held his ground while under siege late to take Sunday's (Nov. 22) featured event at Harrah's Philadelphia, an $11,600 upper-level conditioned pace.
Dealt A Winner and driver Yannick Gingras were strung out a bit by 2-1 favourite Rock The Town through a :27.3 first quarter, but cleared to control the terms with well over a circuit to go. After slowing to the half in :55.3, the eight-year-old Cams Card Shark gelding capably held his ground to stave off a late push up the open stretch from runner-up Rock The Town, who only missed victory in the 1:51.2 mile by a neck. Thatswhatisaid N sustained a first-over grind through the final three-eighths of the mile to finish third, missing by just a half length.
Ron Burke trains 27-time winner Dealt A Winner for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura. The win was his second in a row and his sixth of the season. He paid $6.80 to win.
Todd McCarthy led all drivers with three wins on the 14-race program.
Racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 25), with a $2,769.87 carryover buoying the 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 offered in the fifth race. Post time for the first of 14 races is 12:25 p.m. (EST).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)