An in-form Simon Allard gave the Fort Knox gelding Tonto Returns a perfect steer to strike gold for the second straight outing, winning the $16,901 pacing feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 2) afternoon.
Allard, who has driven 22 winners from 80 starters over his last 10 cards of racing (27.5 per cent), took advantage of drawing inside In The Moonlight, going the opening quarter in :27.2 to seat that rival, then got a breather to the half in :57. When Stay Focused came with a full head of steam down the backstretch, Allard pushed some then let his opponent brush by, reasoning that Stay Focused’s :27 uncovered rush to the front might leave that foe a bit weakened, while he still had horse. In The Moonlight backed out of the pocket to take another shot uncovered to the 1:24.3 three quarters, but he came up shy.
In the stretch Stay Focused did stay on, but Tonto Returns and Allard had enough pace to score a three-quarter length victory in 1:54. Per Engblom trains Tonto Returns, who returned $34.60 to his backers, for Evans Nation, Engblom Stable LLC, and Hickory Hollow Stables.
In an $15,493 claiming handicap pace for the highest-priced selling horses on the grounds, Up The Creek was able to brush four-wide around tired outer tier horses into the stretch and run down favored pacesetter Pink Floyd Hanover to get the big money by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1. The Bettor’s Delight gelding was handled by Jack Pelling for trainer Joe Bongiorno and owner Gregory Tucker.
The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Lyons Steel returned to his “favourite oval” and left a $13,380 fast-class handicap pacing field behind in 1:50.2. The winner of $956,136 set the pace then steamed home in :27.2 – and needed to to ward off the late charge of pocketsitting Belmont Royale N by three parts of a length. Trained by Jose Ramos for BD Racing LLC, Lyons Steel teamed with his regular local pilot Allard, giving Simon two features in his four-win day.
Harrah’s Philly will feature more Liberty Bell stakes action this coming week, with freshman fillies of both gaits on Thursday (Nov. 6) and sophomore males on both the trot and pace during the Friday (Nov. 7) card.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)