Perched third-over up the far side, Independent One circled four-wide in route to a 1:51.4 win in the $17,000 featured pace at Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday, July 29.
After racing second from last in the early stages while Xpert Bayama and Commentariat disputed the lead through fractions of :26.4 and :54.4, driver Simon Allard angled the four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding third over in the backstretch into a late-developing outer flow.
As Rough Odds advanced to press Xpert Bayama on the far turn after a 1:23.1 third-quarter, Independent One stayed right on the helmet of Drinkin Again, who swung three-wide to the lead an eighth from home. Independent One vaulted clear as the pace collapsed and beat Drinkin Again by one-and-one-quarter lengths while Sossys King Kong rallied from astern to take third.
Independent One captured his sixth win career for trainer Vincent Fusco Jr. In addition to handling the driving duties, Allard shares ownership of Independent One with Bruce Soulsby, Allen Weisenberg and Niss Allen Inc. He paid $4.60 to win.
Trainer Lou Peña recorded his 3,000th win in one of two $14,500 sub-featured events, teaming up with Eric Carlson for a 1:52.1 victory with Skyful Of Lighters. The seven-year-old Bettors Delight gelding was left uncovered with a circuit to go, progressed up the backstretch and wore down pacesetter Cyamach N to win by half a length. José Cervantes owns the 20-time winner who paid $29.40 to win.
The other sub-featured pace saw Rock The Nite dig deep to parry a stern first-over threat from Grand Teton, pacing in 1:50 to snag his 18th win career. Andrew Harris trains the six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding for Robert Key. George Napolitano Jr. drove the $6.80 winner.
Multiple players hit the afternoon's 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 in race five, resulting in a carryover of $1,072.27 to the Wednesday, Aug. 1 card. First post is scheduled for 12:25 p.m.
(With files from Harrah's Philadelphia)