The first stakes race on Saturday was the $100,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap for older Pennsylvania-breds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Philly Ace, second in the Robellino Stakes at Penn National last out, was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of 8 over 3-1 Roadhog, winner of the Robellino, and 6-1 Winchill, fourth in the Lyman Handicap at Parx.
Jockey Stewart Elliott sent Winchill to the lead immediately and he set fractions of 25.78, 51.23, and 1:15.02 over the good course while pressed by 9-1 Sir Cadian to his outside. Into the stretch Winchill tired allowing Sir Cadian to inherit a short lead, but Philly Ace closed from 5th and held off late-running Roadhog by a nose for the win in 1:45.05. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Sir Cadian third.
