Chester, PA — Rome Pays Off, runner-up in last year’s Breeders Crown for rookie trotting colts and geldings, took a new mark of 1:54.2 in his seasonal debut, a $12,800 conditioned trot, on Thursday afternoon (July 16) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Driven by Mattias Melander, Rome Pays Off was handled cautiously early in the race before claiming the lead nearing the second turn and turning back his opposition easily to beat Moveoutofmyway K by 3-1/2 lengths. Marcus Melander, 2019 Trainer of the Year, conditions the 3-year-old son of Muscle Hill for the SRF Stable.

In the afternoon’s co-featured $13,600 conditioned trot, Bully Boy got back on the winning track with a 1:54.2 victory over Macmorris Hanover after a break in his last outing interrupted a three-race winning streak. Dexter Dunn worked the Jailhouse Jesse gelding to the lead early from post eight, and the pair never looked back for trainer Jenny Melander and owner Risto Vidgren.

The other co-feature, a, $11,600 upper-level conditioned trot, saw Stormy Kromer win with full authority, defeating Eye Ofa Tiger As by 5-1/4 lengths and taking a mark of 1:51.4. Tim Tetrick drove the Dejarmbro gelding for trainer Paul Stafford and owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.

A pair of major upsets highlighted the 14-race card: Bold Goddess (Andy Miller) won a driving five-horse finish in the sixth race to return $121.00, and Dancing Lew (Montrell Teague) paid $144.60 to win in the 11th.

David Miller earned top honors among drivers with five wins on the day.