Yonkers invader Semi Tough continued sharp form on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning the $22,500 fast-class handicap pace in an impressive 1:51.3 with the temperature at 13°F and a three-second allowance given over the “fast” surface.

Semi Tough tucked third as Stonebridge Karis forced Pat McGarry A to pace a :26.3 opening quarter before yielding. The pacesetter went on to the half in :56, then was asked for more speed with the backstretch tailwind, with Semi Tough coming out of third for driver Simon Allard to challenge before the three-quarters in 1:23. Semi Tough made the lead towards the stretch, then held off the late bid of Blank Stare by three parts of a length.

A six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Ron Burke for the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Semi Tough earned more than $100,000 in the MGM Borgata Series early in the year, yet after a summer break has regained his form and has pushed his bankroll to $232,280 this year and $993,848 lifetime.

Allard and Burke also teamed in the co-featured pace for males, a $15,300 race for upcoming horses: there the winner was the gelding Livinthebeachlife, with $4.6 million worth of parentage (Somebeachsomewhere – Stienam’s Place). The four-year-old is two-for-two since coming from Ohio for Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Chris Page, and Beasty LLC, gaining from out of the pocket to catch Southwind Sandor by 1-1/2 lengths at the end of a 1:52.2 mile.   

On the cold day the hot Burke/Allard combo just missed a sweep of the day’s features when in the $16,200 top pacing handicap for distaffs, Kat came up the inside from the pocket but just missed reaching the favoured pacesetter Grace Rocks by a nose in 1:52.4. Grace Rocks is a daughter of Rockin Image who now has career earnings of $381,385; Jamal Williams trains the consistent miss for owner Howard Taylor.

Allard, thriving in the cold weather (a native of Quebec and thus from a clime further north than most of his rivals), added five more winners on Saturday to the four he guided home first during Friday’s race.

Between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays will come the final two cards of the 2022 Harrah’s Philadelphia campaign. The Friday program will start at 12:25; the Saturday card will begin at 2:30 p.m., and since it is the final racing day of the year, there will be “must-pay” situations in the last occurrence of any gimmick bet that normally would produce a carryover. Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available at the PHHA website.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)