by Mike Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — The clouds hung ominously over the Philadelphia skies on Sunday (May 22), but the rain did hold off, ensuring dry conditions for the races at Harrah’s Philadelphia. The competitive Sunday tilt featured a winner’s over $25,000 lifetime pace (purse $25,000) and two divisions of a non-winners of $15,000 in their last five starts (purse $15,000).

In the winners over event it was millionaire pacer Mach It So (Tim Tetrick) scoring an impressive front-end victory. Coming off three wins in the preliminary rounds of the George Morton Levy series at Yonkers, Mach It So drew post seven for the final and ultimately had no chance the way the race shaped up.

On Sunday the 6-year-old gelded son of Mach Three brushed powerfully to the front, stopping the clock in a stellar 1:50.2 (season’s mark). It was the 29th career win for the Jeffrey Bamond trainee and his fourth of the season.

Steve Elliott trainee Rockeyed Optimist (Brett Miller) had a tough hill to climb, starting from post eight in the event, but was able to establish early pylon position coming away fifth. He had no choice but to come first-over, however, after Mach It So cleared to the lead. It was a big effort for the gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover, as he gamely fought for second. Rockeyed Optimist continues to be a model of consistency for the owning conglomerate of Anthony Perretti, Virginia Berkner, Joseph Battaglia and the A And B Stable. He has only been worse than third three times in the last two seasons.

In the first division of the non-winners of $15,000 last five, it was Dedi’s Dragon (George Napolitano Jr.) overcoming post eight to get the job done. The 6-year-old son of Dragon Again ended up with the pocket seat behind Bettorever (Tim Tetrick) and was able to out-close him in the passing lane, stopping the timer in 1:52.1. It was the 22nd career win for the Paul Holzman trainee, with earnings now just under $800,000.

Division two went to Richard Poilucci’s Starsky’s Dream N (Yannick Gingras). The 6-year-old gelded son of Mach Three made the front end and stayed on nicely, stopping the clock in 1:51.3. It was the 13th win for the Kelvin Harrison trainee and his third win of the year.

Driver Tim Tetrick led the day with four wins. George Napolitano Jr. had three wins on the program.

There is no live racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday (May 25). There is live racing on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30) with a post time of 12:40 p.m. Live racing resumes Thursday (May 26), post time 12:40 p.m.