Chester, PA — The two heavy favorites, Moonshiner Hanover and Tight Lines, battled through the heavy rain in the $18,000 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday (May 23) afternoon, with Moonshiner Hanover reversing the crowd’s final opinion by edging his rival by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1.

George Napolitano Jr. got away third from post two with the son of Andover Hall, while Tight Lines and Jeff Gregory, starting from the difficult post eight, had to take a tuck fifth with many leavers inside him.

Napolitano moved his trotter to the lead in front of the stands, with Gregory taking his charge first-over nearing turn two, and by the backstretch the race was on, with it soon becoming apparent that one of the drivers would win for the third time on the afternoon. Tight Lines battled valiantly the rest of the way, but the early positional edge may have given Moonshiner Hanover enough to withstand his troublesome foe to the wire.

Chris Beaver conditions the winner of $583,417, and he also co-owns him with Synerco Ventures Inc. and Bill Manes.

It was the pacer Undertaker who sounded the death knell for the accumulating Jackpot Hi-5 pool, as the 9-1 shot edged out 1-2 favorite Western Dynasty N in the final steps of the fifth race. Following behind were 7-2 second choice BB’s Harley, 34-1 shot Skyway Billy, and Vodka Is Terror, the longest shot in the field of nine at 54-1. With the 3-2-5-7-8 combination used on only one 20-cent ticket, a lucky holder took down a windfall of $35,989.90.

Sunday will feature one of the best cards of the year at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the $100,000 Betsy Ross Mares Pace, the $100,000 Maxie Lee Trot, and the $100,000 Commodore Barry Pace bringing many of the best Open performers to the riverside oval. Also on the card is the star of the glamour division, Captain Crunch, in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old pacing colts. Six divisions of their Stallion Series counterparts top a special live Memorial Day Monday card, with both sets of races set for a 12:40 p.m. post.