Chester, PA — Let It Ride N paced the fastest mile of the 2022 season at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (May 22), winning the $22,500 featured handicap pace in 1:49.2.

The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding showed good gate speed for driver Todd McCarthy but was out-sprinted just to his outside by No Lou Zing, who was a slight favorite as both were dispatched at 8-5. No Lou Zing set fractions of :26.1, :55 and 1:22, with Backstreet Shadow coming out of fourth to challenge before the far turn.

No Lou Zing still looked in control when he suddenly made a break past the midpoint of the far turn, paving the way for a stretch duel between Let It Ride N and Backstreet Shadow. Let It Ride N proved the better in the stretch duel, winning by 1-1/4 lengths, with the ground-saving Lyons Steel just another neck back in third. Nifty Norman trains Let It Ride N, who now has earnings of $582,234, for owners William Hartt and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.

A $16,200 fast-class pacing co-feature saw the Sweet Lou gelding Pyro hold off a late rush by None Bettor A in 1:50.3, bumping the veteran’s earnings to $537,843 for the meet’s leading trainer, Gilbert Garcia-Owen, and owner Gilbert Garcia-Herrera. George Napolitano Jr. paid a :26 price to make the lead with Pyro through the first quarter, caught a major breather to the :55.3 half, and then passed three-quarters in 1:22.4 before withstanding None Bettor A by a head.

Following a $345,782 rookie season, the Captaintreacherous sophomore filly Don’t Fence Me In made her 3-year-old debut a winning one, defeating older rivals in a $13,000 distaff pace in 1:50.3 for trainer Tony Alagna and the partnership of Riverview Racing LLC, Alagna Racing LLC, Steven Head and Pryde Stables Inc. Scott Zeron kept the filly fourth until the three-quarters, and when he angled her to the outside, she shifted into a very high gear very quickly, overhauling pacesetting favorite Always B Laughlin by a neck while traveling her own last split in an eye-catching :26.3.

Also making a winning sophomore debut for Alagna was the Huntsville colt Caviart Camden, who set the world record for his division of 1:48.3 last year; he overcame post eight for a 1:52.1 tally for driver Joe Bongiorno and Caviart Farms.

Tuesday morning (May 24) qualifiers at Harrah’s Philadelphia will feature two noteworthy trotters: the 5-year-old Amigo Volo and the 3-year-old Double Deceiver. Racing resumes on Wednesday (May 25) at 12:25 p.m.; Sunday’s (May 29) spectacular program features three $100,000 Invitationals for older horses and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Program pages will be available on the PHHA website.