Two $16,438 events for horses working their way towards the higher classification levels were the feature races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, July 21, with one scheduled for each gait.
The pacing feature was restricted to male horses, and it was captured by the Heston Blue Chip-Place Your Best colt Best Chip, who won his second straight race for trainer Jacob Stilwell and owners Bruce Stallworth, Matthew Bassett, and Steve Schefkind. Michael Cole had the drive Sunday, and he pointed Best Chip to the early lead then yielded after the :27.2 quarter to Captain Fear (Simon Allard), who put up middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.1. Best Chip moved out from the pocket to challenge at the head of the stretch, and he got by the leader late, winning by a neck. Goodbye Stranger (Jonathan Ahle) completed the ticket. Best Chip, a sophomore colt, is two-for-10 this year and has won three of 22 career starts.
A four-across-the-wire finish in the trotting headliner went to the Six Pack-Micheles Baby sophomore gelding Theobald, who lowered his race record by six seconds to 1:55.2 for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Chris Freck, and Stormi And Bruiser Stable. Dream Weaver Deo (Jack Pelling) went right out and put up quick splits of :27.1, :56.1, and 1:25.1. On the far turn, he was joined by the first-over winner, with second-over Lisbon (Niko Karna) and Bourbon Buzz (Mark Herschberger) joining the cavalry charge. Theobald won by a neck over 50-1 Bourbon Buzz, who emerged second in a photo with Lisbon, who won the picture for third over Dream Weaver Deo. Theobald erased the goose egg in 2025 with Sunday's win, which improved his lifetime tally to two in 20 starts.
The 11-year-old Roll With Joe-Ashkalini gelding Ignatius A reached the 50-win milestone with a victory in the 10th race. Jonathan Ahle sent the journeyman first-over from third on the backstretch, and Ignatius A rolled past pacesetter Grand Cayman (Callahan) before racing clear by 3-1/2 lengths for the 1:51.3 victory. Grand Cayman hung on for place over Back Pocket Mini (Cole). Ignatius A, owned and trained by Noel Daley, earned his 50th win in his 174th career outing. The Aussie import, who took a mark of 1:48.3 in the slop at The Meadowlands in 2022, has raked in $805,736 in earnings. He is four-for-19 this year.
Johnathan Ahle and Corey Callahan each won one leg of the Late Double, giving both drivers three victories and a share of the day’s leadership. Two of Ahle’s victories came for trainer Noel Daley, the only conditioner doubling on the Sunday program.
Harrah’s Philadelphia also hosted a pair of $10,274 American Harness Drivers Club Pace events during the card. William Harrison sped to a 1:54 win with Ferdinand A in the first division. He grabbed the lead through a :27.2 first quarter and forced his competition to chase through middle sectionals of :56 and 1:24. Ferdinand A coasted to a 3-3/4-length win over 7-5 favourite Rojans Way, who (Geovany Hernandez) closed for second. Born Brilliant (Joe Lee) rode the pylons for third while Sunshines Finest (Tony Verruso) rallied from near-last for fourth.
Kelvin Harrison trains Ferdinand A, a 12-year-old gelding by Courage Under Fire-To Die With Dignity, for owner James Slendorn. He paid $13.20 to win as he improved his record to three-for-21 this year.
Hernandez rebounded after getting foiled with the favourite in division one to deliver 3-5 chalk Phelgon to the winner’s circle off a 1:56.4 mile in division two. Phelgon sat fourth as Hes A Beach (Lee) cut a quick clip of :26.4 and :56.2 before losing steam on the backstretch. Redding Hanover (Yogi Sheridan) rushed first-over from last and pushed for the lead while Hernandez found clearance to swing three-wide and build momentum with Phelgon through three-quarters in 1:26.4. Phelgon overpowered his rivals in the stretch and scooted away to a 3-1/4-length win with Atlantic Star (Bruce Baker) shaking free from a shuffle for second. Redding Hanover was third, and Persimmon A (William Harrison) tired from a pocket trip to finish fourth.
Hernandez owns and trains Phelgon, a seven-year-old mare by Rockin Image-Phillys Delight, who is now five-for-24 on the season. She paid $3.40 to win.
Harrah's Philadelphia will host another round of AHDC action on Sunday, July 27.
Racing continues on a four-day-a-week schedule during July at Harrah’s Philadelphia: Wednesday through Friday cards start at 12:25 p.m., while Sunday programs begin at 12:40 p.m.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)