Benjamin Hanover came out of the pocket to catch favoured pacesetter Ari Ferrari J for the second straight week, evening their recent score in the $22,535 Winners Over Handicap Trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on "Trottin' Thursday," July 23.
The new element this week was Ari Ferrari J's fellow millionaire Sir Pinocchio, coming in and having to start from the outside post six, versus Benjamin Hanover’s four and Ari Ferrari J’s five. His two main rivals were joined by inside longshots early, putting Sir Pinocchio (Corey Callahan) five-wide nearing the first turn and forcing him to tuck. Benjamin Hanover circled to command for Tim Tetrick, then yielded to Ari Ferrari J (Andrew McCarthy). That one went past splits of :27.1, :56.4, and 1:24.3, with Sir Pinocchio racing uncovered down the back to challenge.
The two leaders slugged it out around the far turn and into the lane, with Tetrick sitting calmly with Benjamin Hanover behind them. He then left-lined the gelding when the passing lane opened, and his charge got the decision by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4. Ari Ferrari J held for second, with Sir Pinocchio edging out second-over Dribbling Bi (Troy Beyer) for third behind the winner.
Benjamin Hanover, a six-year-old Sebastian K S-By A Neck Hanover gelding, now has 35 victories in 72 career starts. Ari Ferrari J defeated him in two straight Philly Winners Over events in June, but Benjamin Hanover has turned the tables with back-to-back victories over that rival in the last two weeks. He is trained by Scott Di Domenico for owner Angela Cornell. The win price was $5.
Per Engblom harnessed three winners on the 15-race card, all driven by Andrew McCarthy. The pair won with Kildare King ($3.40), Ourmomentntime ($3.60) and Clear For Landing ($3.40), giving the trainer a triple to take the lead in the standings 30-29 over Joe Bongiorno. Engblom is second in North American wins with 255 this year from 1,114 starts.
The $18,310 fast-class sub-featured conditioned trot went to the four-year-old International Moni-Aarena Hanover gelding Arrowhead Hanover ($6). He had hinted at a return to form with a good third despite a raw trip in his latest, and here again had to go uncovered but got the job done in 1:53.4. Favoured Donato Patriot K (Tim Tetrick), trying for his third straight win, took the engine duty and carved out splits of :28, :56.3, and 1:25. Arrowhead Hanover was relentless, though, forging to the lead in the lane and then holding off second-over Saint K (Corey Callahan) by a neck. Shoresy (Andrew McCarthy) was third. Troy Beyer drove Arrowhead Hanover for trainer Daniel Munson and Thestable Arrowheadhanover. The winner is now 12-for-56 lifetime.
The Captain Corey-My First Lady sophomore filly Maya Patel Hanover ($2.80), who had successes in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race and a Pennsylvania All-Stars contest, switched over to a conditioned race and had no problem winning the top trot for developing horses on the card, a $19,014 contest, in 1:55.2. The swift filly went right to command for Jonathan Ahle, posted fractions of :29.1, :58.3 and 1:27, then finished out in :28.2 to be well clear of the competition for trainer Åke Svanstedt and the partnership of Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Brittany Farms LLC.
McCarthy led all drivers with four wins, also steering Noel Daley's Diamond Bay ($5.60) to victory. Johnathan Ahle had two wins, both for trainer Åke Svanstedt. The other doublers on the day were Troy Beyer, Brad Chisholm, and meet leader Tim Tetrick.
Racing at Philly resumes Friday at 12:25 p.m., with fillies and mares in the pacing spotlight. Sunday’s 12:40 p.m. action features Captain Optimistic in the $16,000 USD Winners Over Handicap Pace.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Benjamin Hanover winning on Feb. 10, 2026)