Chester, PA — Whenever driver Scott Zeron makes a visit to Harrah’s Philadelphia, it’s usually the prospect of a live drive that lures him.

The horse that brought Zeron to Philly on Sunday afternoon (July 3) was Keg Stand, who won his $66,153 third-round preliminary Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event for 3-year-old male trotters in 1:53.1. Zeron also picked up the catch drive behind Outside The Fire, who won the other Sire Stakes split in 1:53.4. Both sophomores took new lifetime marks.

Keg Stand looked ready to go after two good qualifiers at the end of April, but then was off for six weeks before winning another qualifier. Trainer Nancy Takter determined that the winner of $177,042 was then ready to race, and he vindicated her judgment. Zeron floated out with the son of Bar Hopping and roared up to take the lead just after a :28.1 quarter. After middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25, Keg Stand was all alone in the stretch, winning by 3-1/4 lengths in a comfortable 2022 debut for Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter and John Fielding.

Keg Stand proved a comfortable winner in his seasonal debut, taking his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes split in 1:53.4.

Trainer Anette Lorentzon tapped Zeron to handle the Cantab Hall gelding Outside The Fire in the other Sire Stakes division. Zeron yielded early for a pocket trip behind Famous Father through fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.4. Belying his name, Outside The Fire went to the inside in the stretch, made the lead, and held off closer Fiftyfour K by 1-3/4 lengths, with Famous Father another length back in third. Outside The Fire had actually finished first in a Sire Stakes at The Meadows, but broke just before the finish line and was placed; today, perfect behavior resulted in a favorable result for Lorentzon, who shares ownership with ACL Stuteri AB.

Outside The Fire darted up the open stretch and evaded all challengers in the other PASS split. Grace Zimmers photos.

Oh Boy (Tony Morgan, 1:55.3), Mrmayor Hanover (Andy McCarthy, 1:56.2) and Andoverthewinnings (Corey Callahan, 1:56.2) won their respective $20,000 Stallion Series divisions.

Racing resumes at Harrah’s Philly on Wednesday (July 6) with a 12:25 p.m. first post and two carryovers: $2,281.91 in the third-race Super Hi-5 and $1,465.04 for the 50-cent Pick-5 (races 5-9). Program pages will be available on the .