Sophomore gelding Net Weight, in his first start in six months, was more than ready for the $16,438 conditioned trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on a sub-freezing afternoon on Friday, Dec. 26, winning by two lengths in 1:59.3.
Driver Johnathan Ahle had Net Weight in the two-hole through most of the mile behind Soft Landing (James Kennedy) and when he tipped his charge to the inside for the stretch drive, the Muscle Hill-Air Quote Hanover gelding proved to have more than enough to win as the heavy favourite. Soft Landing held off Iditorod (Ridge Warren) for second. Net Weight, a nine-time starter whose only other career victory was in a Kindergarten consolation last season, is trained by Noel Daley for The Gandolfo Stables of Saddle River, New Jersey, Lenny Zelin of Highlight Beach, Florida, Harbor Racing Stable of Uxbridge, Ont., and L A Express Stable of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
They were three across the track at the finish of the $15,069 fast-class pace for distaffs, with the four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Agent Q mare Bellucci proving most photogenic in 1:54.2. The Scott Di Domenico trainee rode second-over for driver Jack Pelling as pacesetter Maria Allegonda N (Austin Siegelman) went head-to-head with first-over favourite Miki In Luv (Ridge Warren), then fanned wide and was just along by a head over Maria Allegonda N, with Miki In Luv just a nostril behind them. Larry Fischer of Syosset, New York owns the nine-time seasonal winner.
Shezafreaklikeme closed from last to register a $52.80 upset for owner/trainer/driver Stacy Chiodo, giving the trainer her second $50+ winner of the meet and tying her with Ray Burt as conditioners of dual $50+ bombers at the top of that list at Philly in 2025.
Mark Herschberger, George Napolitano Jr., Austin Siegelman and Jack Pelling all had two driving victories on the 14-race program; Pelling’s pair were trained by Scott Di Domenico, who was joined in the conditioning double category by Tony Alagna.
Harrah’s Philadelphia has but two cards left in its racing season; the next is Sunday at 12:40 p.m., which features a crackerjack $18,000 USD nine-horse fast class trot and a carryover into the Pick 4 wager on the first quartet of events on the card. The southeast Pennsylvania track then concludes its meet on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, with a special starting time of 4 p.m. and mandatory payouts on the last iteration of its normal “carryover” wagers.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)