Billy Badger N and owner-driver Dexter Dunn slipstreamed second-over cover before rallying to a neck victory over He's Electric in his event, a $14,500 upper-level conditioned pace.
After Ocean Colony (Andy McCarthy) controlled early splits of :27 and :55.4, Dunn angled the 6-year-old Art Major gelding into the outer tier behind a steadily advancing Seeing Eye Single (Yannick Gingras) up the backstretch. Turning for home, Billy Badger N angled three-wide and lifted to just prevail over He's Electric (David Miller) — who emerged from traffic — in 1:53.1. Letschasethedreamn (George Napolitano Jr.) saved third from the pocket.
Richard 'Nifty' Norman trains Billy Badger N, whose third consecutive win was also the 15th of his career.
In the co-featured $16,000 conditioned pace, John Cancelliere's Sugar Factory made every call a winning one, posting a 1:52.3 win as the 7-5 choice.
George Napolitano Jr. sent the 3-year-old Sweet Lou colt to a clear lead from the outset, and the pair clicked through sectionals of :28.1, :56.3 and 1:24.3 before bracing for a head-stretch challenge from Glacis (Pat Lachance), who angled out from third off the home turn. Sugar Factory held sway by a length over Glacis, while Smackitwithahammer (Tim Tetrick) chased from the pocket to finish third.
Tom Cancelliere trains five-time winner Sugar Factory.
Live racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday (Nov. 20), and will feature a $6,427.94 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 in race five. First post is 12:25 p.m. Eastern.
by James Witherite, for Harrah's Philadelphia