Chester, PA — Max narrowly held off a late charge from Kenziesky Hanover in the well-matched, hard-to-handicap $18,000 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (Dec. 5).

Yannick Gingras hustled Max away quickly and forced Kenziesky Hanover to tuck behind him, then yielded to Top Flight Angel past a :27.3 quarter. Top Flight Angel guided the field to the half in :57 and then increased the tempo to 1:25.2 at the three-quarters, with Cruising In Style coming first-over and Kenziesky Hanover slipping out behind that one’s cover.

Through the stretch, Max slipped up the inside and Kenziesky Hanover tipped wide, with both widely-separated foes giving their all. Max took the advantage mid-lane and kept it to the finish line, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Ron Burke trains the Yankee Glide gelding for the Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Frank Baldachino.

The heavy favorite Hill Of A Horse looked to be in good position nearing the far turn of the $17,000 co-featured trot, advancing second-over behind cover, but it certainly didn’t hurt him when three of his rivals broke on the final curve. The victorious Muscle Hill gelding overhauled his cover, Mystical Wynn, by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.2, posting his 10th lifetime win in but 28 starts for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Erv Miller and Andray Farms.

Gingras and George Napolitano Jr. each won three races on the Thursday program.