Chester, PA — The Explosive Matter gelding Scirocco Rob was pointed to the front of the pack by David Miller in the $18,000 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (June 13), and the winner of $324,173 never looked back in a 1:53.1 victory.

Showing a recent win in this class and sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Scirocco Rob was parked most of the :27.3 first quarter to get the lead, then got to the half in :56. Thisguyisonfire came uncovered from fifth at the midpoint, posing a tough challenge to the leader before the 1:24.3 three-quarters and battling with him all the way home. Scirocco Rob withstood his pesky rival by a half length for trainer Mark Silva and owners Kathleen and Lewis Whitaker Jr.

Yannick Gingras had top driving honors on the day with four victories, three of them on the lead and one from first-over. In fact, those were the only two positions that yielded winning trips on the card except for the first race, where Cuz I’m Rockin came out of the pocket for Allan Davis to post a 63-1 upset.