Chester, PA — Five sub-1:55 miles on the trot headlined the Thursday (May 9) program at Harrah’s Philadelphia — including a repeat win by Chake in the $13,000 headliner — while 3-year-old pacer Total Stranger broke his maiden in an eye-popping 1:49.1.

The 5-year-old Donato Hanover mare Chake again mastered the riverside oval’s top trotters, putting up fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:24.2 before a :27.3 dash to the wire to complete the mile in 1:52 — a new lifetime record and only two-fifths of a second off the divisional track record held by Manchego — while beating double millionaire Crystal Fashion by 1-1/4 lengths. Simon Allard drove the 5-year-old Donato Hanover mare for owner Daniel Sarafian and local leading trainer Per Engblom, the only conditioner who doubled on the day.

The other fast winners on the trot were Yanks Dugout, in 1:52.2; Dire Straits and Swan’s Maid, both in 1:53.3; and Fifty Ways, in 1:54.2.

Total Stranger, who earned $76,635 at 2 without winning a single race, achieved the quickest clocking of the Philly meet in his 2024 debut. Yannick Gingras handled the Bettor’s Delight-Precocious Beauty colt — thus a full brother to Tall Dark Stranger — through quarters of :26.4, :53.3 and 1:20.2, and the pair amassed a 15-length lead heading into the final turn. Total Stranger finished out his mile 8-1/2 lengths over runner-up Cereal Assassin for trainer Nancy Takter and owners Judith Taylor, Caviart Farms and Chuck Pompey.

Allard and Gingras were joined in posting driving doubles by Corey Callahan, David Miller and Tim Tetrick.

A pair of $13,500 contests, one on each gait, will headline Friday’s (May 10) action at Harrah’s Philadelphia, while the Early Pick-4 (races 1-4) will be buoyed by a $2,690.88 carryover. First post is 12:25 p.m.; free programs are available at www.phha.org.