Chester, PA – Three divisions of the $14,400 “nw 5 races” class went gateward during the Friday (Dec. 17) afternoon card at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Two of the sections were for male pacers. The faster went to the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Caviart Eden, claimed for $25,000 two starts ago, a winner against that company last time, and then, switching over to the conditioned ranks here, going down the road from the rail to post a lifetime best of 1:51.4.

Troy Beyer took early control from the pole, put everybody in behind, then sprinted home in :54.4 – :27.1 to drew clear of a good group, 2-3/4 lengths ahead of Moonlight Shadow, who was another two lengths ahead of favored His Beats Hanover. Trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner Eric Prevost saw their horse win his way out of this class with the victory, but their recent acquisition may not be out of place even against better foes.

In the other pace, Candys Image Rocks used the rail to secure a pocket trip behind Mickeys Spirit, then just caught that one late to notch a neck victory in a career best 1:52.3. The Rockin Image gelding won for driver Simon Allard, trainer Les Givens, and the partnership of Legacy Racing Of DE Inc. and Nanticoke Racing Inc.

In the one co-feature programmed for trotters, the Andover Hall gelding Choco’s Choice used his familiar closing tactics to record his fourth win from his last seven starts, this one in 1:58 to equal his lifetime best. The six-time winner in but fifteen lifetime starts was rallied strongly by driver Troy Beyer to defeat Love This Bar by a length for trainer Jim Groff and owner Bernard O’Brien.

Tim Tetrick, all but mathematically assured of his seventh Harrah’s dash driving title, reported home first on five occasions Friday.

Rockapelo, who has raced in every month but May during 2021 and earned $323,780, is still going strong here in mid-December, and has been tabbed as the 5-2 early favorite for Sunday’s (Dec. 19) $16,200 featured pace at the southeast Pennsylvania oval. Program pages for Sunday’s 12:40 card will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.