Former WEG campaigner and 2012 Masters Stakes winner Sparky Mark was a wire-to-wire winner in Friday afternoon's featured $30,000 Winners Over Handicap Pace at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Leaving from post five in the eight-horse field, Sparky Mark and driver Ron Pierce fired to the lead and carved out fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:22.3. He kept the favoured first over challenger, Dial Or Nodial (David Miller), at bay when pressured around the final turn and drew clear to win in 1:50.3. Transcending (Yannick Gingras) finished one length behind off a pocket trip and Fancyfreeshark (Jonathan Roberts) rallied from second over to edge out Dial Or Nodial for third.
Sparky Mark paid $5.60 to win as the slight 9-5 second choice in the wagering.
His season's best equalling victory was his fourth in eight starts and boosted his 2013 bankroll to $95,500.
Sparky Mark was purchased from Ontario owner-breeder Leo Thibodeau in March by a U.S. ownership group consisting of Vip Internet Stable LLC, Richard Lombardo, Keith Pippi, and the Sparky Mark Stable. He is trained by Gary Green.
Lifetime, the six-year-old son of Astreos has won 31 times to earn $668,440 in purses.