Chester, PA — Thisguyisonfire captured the $18,000 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday (May 2), lowering his lifetime best by a fifth of a second to 1:54.2.

When Perseverance, who was outside battling rail-sitting leaver and favorite Scirocco Rob, broke stride at the eighth, Thisguyisonfire inherited second at the :28.1 quarter before Andy McCarthy moved him to the lead. The son of Yankee Glide was still in control through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:25.2, and had enough to withstand a late challenge from Rock Of Cashel by a length.

Chris Lakata trains Thisguyisonfire, now successful in three of his last four starts, for owner Richard Mishkin.

Both $14,500 sub-featured trots also resulted in lifetime records. In only his second start in six months, Tight Lines brushed to the lead in front of the stands for trainer-driver Jeff Gregory and poured on the steam from there. The Yankee Glide gelding drew away from favored Filled Donut by 5-3/4 lengths in a 1:52.3 mile for Jeff Gregory Inc., Jesmeral Stable and William Richardson.

In the other sub-featured contest, the Donato Hanover gelding Mosconi Hanover won his second consecutive outing, sitting just off a protracted duel between front-stepping Dream Massive and early challenger Sir John F before catching the former by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.3 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. and owner Christine Baggitt.

On Friday (May 3), champion filly Warrawee Ubeaut (1:48.3) will start in one of two Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for sophomore pacing fillies. There will also be five divisions of Stallion Series action. In addition, the fifth-race Jackpot Hi-5 carryover will be just over $17,000.

On Saturday (May 4), the start of the Great Northeast Open Series headlines a special live Derby Day card at 12:40 p.m. Crystal Fashion, winner of over a million dollars last year, tops the $30,000 Open Trot in his first start of the year, while 3-year-old divisional champion Kissin In The Sand makes her seasonal debut in the $30,000 Mares Open Pace.