Jimmy Freight, the pacing Free-For-Aller who has been absent from the racetrack since winning the Gold Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 18, turned in a 1:50.4 qualifying victory at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday morning (Aug. 16).

The seven-year-old O'Brien Award-winning son of Sportswriter, who has career earnings of more than $1.8 million, made his debut for new lessees Winbak Farms Of Ontario Inc. and trainer Brett Pelling, with Brett’s son Jack steering the 11-for-18 winner in 2022 through fractions of :28.1, :56 and 1:23.4 on the front end before hitting the wire in 1:50.4. Jimmy Freight finished 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Angers Bayama, a high-level performer prepping for his first start of the year for trainer Tony Alagna with a 1:52.3 qualifying win and now this encouraging effort.

Jimmy Freight, who had been sidelined with a leg injury, is eligible to the Canadian Pacing Derby.

Soon after he qualified, he showed up on the entry sheet for the Harrah's Philadelphia program on Friday, which starts at 12:25 p.m. He's been assigned the outside post six in a $22,500 handicap pace, scheduled as the eighth race.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)