Class relief enabled Yonkers invader Ballerat Boomerang ($10.80) to sustain a first-over bid in progress to a 1:50.3 victory in the Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) feature at Harrah's Philadelphia, an $18,000 top-level conditioned pace. On the undercard, George Napolitano Jr. led all drivers with five wins, capped by a 1:49.2 mile from Dealt A Winner ($3.20) in the sub-feature.
The six-year-old If I Can Dream gelding was unhurried early by Pat Berry, settling in midfield while K Ryan Bluechip and Daamericansky disputed a :26.3 first quarter. With nine-sixteenths to go, Berry angled Ballerat Boomerang first-over and he advanced steadily into a :55.2 half mile before pushing clear of K Ryan Bluechip up the backstretch.
Ballerat Boomerang tried to accelerate away up the far side by way of a :27 third quarter, but K Ryan Bluechip maintained a close pocket through the final turn before angling out in upper stretch. Ballerat Boomerang held his ground to the winning post, notching the 44th win of his career by three-quarters of a length over K Ryan Bluechip. Mikes Z Tam circled around a stalled Little Ben off the far turn to claim third.
Nick Surick trains Ballerat Boomerang for the Engel Stable of Illinois and the J L Benson Stables.
In the sub-featured $14,500 conditioned pace, Dealt A Winner overcame the back row by way of an early and lively flow to post a dominant seven-and-a-half length victory over Alotbettor N. Napolitano drove the Mark Silva trainee to the 19th win of his career.
Dealt A Winner's win keyed a 9-4-5-2-6 combination in the 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5, which returned $257.82 to multiple bettors. The carryover for Wednesday's (Sept. 18) fifth race has grown to $24,142.29.
First post for Wednesday's 13-race card is 12:25 p.m. Eastern.
(Harrah's Philadelphia)