Chester, PA — Mac’s Delight overcame a 22-day layoff, the outside post in the field of six, and having to come his last half in :53.2 uncovered, but he checked all those boxes in winning the $15,000 fast-class pacing feature in 1:49 Sunday (July 14) afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The Bettor’s Delight gelding was reserved in fifth by driver Corey Callahan as Harrington invader Sweet Angel Boy (Tony Morgan) put up early fractions of :25.4 and :54.2. Mac’s Delight was underway raw coming off turn two, streaked up to challenge the leader by the 1:22.1 three-quarters, and looked a likely winner when he opened a clear lead nearing head stretch. But Sweet Angel Boy was quite game, and Mac’s Delight had to dig in to hang on to a neck margin at the finish for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner John.

A neck was also the winning margin in the $14,000 fast-class sub feature pace, with the Control The Moment gelding Camara Moment (David Miller) proving most photogenic in 1:51.4. The winner, driven by Miller for trainer Michael Fiumenero and owners James Burke, Mickey Sudar, Brenton Harris, and Dewitt Stables, also had to attack via the uncovered route, but a back half of :54.1 was enough to let him work past pacesetter Wager On Me (Morgan) late.

A rainstorm passed through the area with three races left, causing a delay and leaving the racing surface “sloppy.” Amateur driver Joseph Lee now can safely be classified as a “mudder,” as he two drove two longshot winners that looked like odds-on horses coming through the stretch: the trotter Puddin N Pie, who hadn’t been to Victory Lane in 659 days (hadn’t been 1-2 in 573 days), but won by five lengths while paying $138.60, and the pacer Sports Hero, who won by three lengths while returning $43.60.

Hall Of Famers David Miller and Tim Tetrick each won three times on the card.

Racing resumes Wednesday at 12:25, with the second prelim round for two-year-old pacing fillies in both the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.