Chester, PA — As is often the case at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the front end was the place to be for the winners of the two featured trots during the track’s Thursday afternoon (Oct. 29) program, raced over a “sloppy” surface.

The Donato Hanover colt Big Nudge scratched into the $12,800 top purse event from the “also eligible” list and had the dreaded post eight, but then had his load lightened considerably when there were three more scratches from the programmed starters.

David Miller promptly sent him to the top in the short field and the pair had no trouble controlling the throttle, coming home in :28.4 to post a 1:57.1 victory by 1-3/4 lengths over Lucy Mae Hanover. Jake Leamon conditions the 3-year-old for Charles Elliott, A And B Stable, and Hutt Racing Stable.

In an $11,600 trot for the faster-class seasoned performers, the Muscle Mass gelding Cavill Hanover also went right to the engine and held off a determined first-over bid by Yankees Beast to win by a neck in 1:55.3, last quarter :28.3. Marcus Miller drove the winner of $227,480 for trainer Mark Harder and Thestable Cavill Hanover.

Tim Tetrick and David Miller each posted a triple on the Thursday card.