Chester, PA — Melady’s Monet might have out-earned Skyway Bebop by over $1.9 million through the end of last season, but Skyway Bebop proved to be the “Queen Of The Hill” on Thursday (May 19) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, motoring to her sixth straight victory in the featured $22,500 handicap trot.

Driver Tony Morgan got away fourth with the 5-year-old daughter of Guccio, but soon after the :27.1 opening quarter, he had her in high gear to take command going past the stands, reaching the half in :55.3 and hitting three-quarters in 1:23.2. No one threatened Skyway Bebop in the stretch as she won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1, a lifetime mark and only three-fifths of a second of the divisional track record set in 2021 by Manchego. Scirocco Rob sat the pocket to be second, with first-over Swan In Motion third and favorite Melady’s Monet fourth from second-over.

Trainer Niss Allen Inc. and trainer Tim Crissman took charge of the mare after a late February purchase, and in three months, Skyway Bebop has climbed the class ladder with eight victories and earnings of $69,050 in nine starts for her new connections.

In the $15,300 co-featured trot, Tim Tetrick sent Big Bad Swan through fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.1 before posting a new mark of 1:54.4 as he boosted his earnings to $107,172 lifetime for trainer Scott DiDomenico and the partnership of Triple D Stables Inc. and Betty Jo Clegg.

The biggest winner of the day in the horseman’s colony was trainer Per Engblom, who sent out four winning charges. The quadruple lifted Engblom into a tie for second in the local standings, even with DiDomenico at 10 and trailing only Gilbert Garcia-Owen, whose 14 includes a double Thursday.

Friday’s (May 20) card brings a $5,000 guaranteed pool in each of the Pick-4 pools, which begin in races one and 10, in cooperation with the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program. The afternoon’s $14,400 featured pace matches Camouflage Hanover and Tuggin On My Heart. Program pages are available on the PHHA website.