Chester, PA — The Father Patrick gelding Blazing Trail proved to have the most late in winning the $15,300 headline trot on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 18) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:57.2.

Dazzling Reign, favored despite having only two races since Sept. 5, took advantage of the rail and seated all her rivals, hitting the first two splits in :28 and :58.3. Slated To Win mounted a big third quarter move to go up after the lead to the 1:27 three-quarters, with Blazing Trail following second-over. Almost the entire field was in a contending position turning for home, but it was Blazing Trail who got to the wire first, with the gallant Dazzling Reign holding for second, three-quarters of a length behind, and Slated To Win just another half-length back in third. Simon Allard drove the winner for owner/trainer Ken Tisa.

In the co-featured $14,400 trot, the Creatine sophomore filly Vinyasa stepped up in class and won again, this time taking a new lifetime mark of 1:54.3. Parked most of a :27.2 opener, Vinyasa yielded the lead to favored Bluebird Rocky, who put up middle splits of :57 and 1:25.2, then came out of the pocket on the far turn and caught the leader by a head in the shadow of the wire. David Miller drove the winner for owner/trainer Chris Lakata.

Young 18-year-old trainer Bryson Dunning picked up his first lifetime conditioning victory when Real McCoy, guided by Simon Allard, edged by pacesetting Miss Cleopatrick while taking a new mark of 1:57.3 for owner Dante Scattolini. The youngster already has two driving tallies, including his first start at the Woodstock (VA) fairgrounds where Shenandoah Downs races.

Program pages for the 12:25 p.m. first race post card on Friday are available at the PHHA website.