The Cantab Hall sophomore gelding Nextroundsonme moved well through the last quarter to take a 1:56.1 victory in the $16,000 trotting feature on a special Labour Day Monday afternoon (Sept. 2) of racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
George Napolitano Jr. reserved the five-time winner in third as Our White Knight put up fractions of :28, :58 and 1:26.2. When Nextroundsonme came out on the far turn and trotted up to the front, neither the pacesetter nor pocket-sitting favorite Vics Winner could offer much resistance, and Nextroundsonme proved a two-length winner over an oncoming Rock My Muscles.
Jenny Melander trains Nextroundsonme for Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC.
There were also a pair of $20,000-$25,000 claiming handicap paces. In the first, Ideal Rocky advanced uncovered from sixth and eventually wore down pacesetting Rockin Rio by a half length in 1:53.2 for driver Vinnie Ginsburg. Trainer Matias Ruiz co-owns the Rocknroll Hanover gelding with James and Joe Mascola.
The other went to the Western Paradise gelding Abner The Great, unbeaten in two recent local outings after fronting his field and leaving Fernado 3-3/4 lengths behind in 1:51.3 for driver Joe Bongiorno, trainer Jennifer Bongiorno and owner Patrick O’Brien.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)