With a last to first effort over a sloppy track, Dial Or Nodial prevailed in a photo finish in Friday's $50,000 Open Handicap Pace at Harrah's Philadelphia for the second consecutive week.
Assigned the outside post seven, Dial Or Nodial and driver David Miller trailed the field early on while Meirs Hanover (Yannick Gingras) established the lead from post four and forced Abelard Hanover (Corey Callahan) into the pocket during a :26.4 first quarter.
After taking a :30 second quarter breather, Meirs Hanover was pressured by first over Hypnotic Blue Chip (George Napolitano Jr.) with favourite We Will See (Ron Pierce) and Dial Or Nodial following his cover.
Meirs Hanover turned back Hypnotic Blue Chip past the 1:25.1 third quarter mark while We Will See fanned three-wide with Dial Or Nodial following that move.
Meirs Hanover held onto the lead down the stretch, but was swarmed from both sides as the wire approached. Rallying home on the far outside, Dial Or Nodial got up in time for the 1:53.1 triumph by a nose. We Will See was second in the photo finish with Meirs Hanover settling for third and Abelard Hanover fourth along the pylons.
Overlooked once by the betting public once again, Dial Or Nodial paid $14 to win as the 6-1 third choice.
Jim Campbell trains Fashion Farms' six-year-old son of Western Ideal, who is closing in on $1.5 million in purse earnings for his career. The victory was Dial Or Nodial's fifth this season in 19 starts and 27th lifetime.