CHESTER PA – Two $12,000 events for horses working their way towards the higher classification levels were the feature races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon; there was one scheduled for each harness racing gait.

The pacing feature was restricted to male horses, and it was captured by the Heston Blue Chip gelding 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, who put up middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.1. Best Chip moved out from the pocket to challenge headstretch, and he got by the leader late, winning by a neck.

BEST CHIP REPLAY

A four-across-the-wire finish in the trotting headliner went to the Six Pack sophomore gelding Theobald, who lowered his race record six seconds to 1:55.2 for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Chris Freck, and Stormi And Bruiser Stable.

Dream Weaver Deo 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 and Bourbon Buzz (splitting horses midstretch) joining the cavalry charge. Theobald won by a neck over 50-1 Bourbon Buzz, who won a photo for second over Lisbon, who won the picture for third over Dream River Deo.

THEOBALD REPLAY

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.

Racing continues on a four-day-a-week schedule during July at Harrah’s Philadelphia: Wednesday through Friday cards start at 12:25, while Sunday programs begin at 12:40. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia