by PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — Featured at the start of the racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (July 11) were a pair of $16,000 conditioned events, one on each gait.

The pacers were up first and their race was taken by the Somebeachsomewhere sophomore colt I’m A Big Deal in 1:51.3. A Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner in 1:50.2 on May 19, I’m A Big Deal was sent right to the front by driver George Napolitano Jr. and held sway the rest of the way.

No Easy Day did not make it an easy day for the winner of $119,594 in the stretch, but I’m A Big Deal still had enough to tally by 1-1/4 lengths. Chris Ryder trains the colt and co-owns with Craig Henderson and Robert Mondillo.

On the trotting side, Scirocco Rob, posted a new mark of 1:53 for driver Corey Callahan and trainer John Butenschoen. The altered son of Explosive Matter, coming first-over, was resisted the length of the :27.3 third quarter by pacesetting Im Your Captain.

Through the last quarter-mile, however, the winner of $158,210 asserted his superiority and was clear by 6-1/2 lengths over Im Your Captain at the wire. Kathleen and Lewis Whitaker Jr. are the owners of the talented sophomore.

Leading driver Tim Tetrick continued his recent hot form, bringing four horses home first in the Wednesday afternoon sunshine.