South Beach Star was parked most of a :53.3 first half en route to winning in 1:48.2 at Pocono last week. On Friday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the Somebeachsomewhere gelding saved the :53.3 half for the back of the mile, holding off favoured Lous Pearlman by half a length in 1:49.1 to take the $20,000 Open Handicap Pace.
David Miller left swiftly with the sharp pacer, yielded to Lous Pearlman before the :26.2 quarter, then moved off the first turn to reclaim the lead and got a rest to the :55.3 mid-point. At that point, the afterburners kicked in, as South Beach Star paced :27.1 down the back to a 1:22.4 three-quarters fraction, then blazed home in :26.2 to finish out the powerful mile.
The Mark Silva trainee earned approximately $180,000 before this year, but the five-year-old gelding really has found himself as of late for All Star Racing Inc., winning four straight and finishing willingly and alertly – a combination that spells trouble for the next few fields he faces.
In the companion Open Handicap Pace for females, last year’s U.S. three-year-old champion Treacherous Dragon fired off the gate to take the lead past a :26.1 opening panel, then herself got a respite and reached the half in :55.3. The Always B Miki mare Incaseyoudidntknow, steadily close in many Matchmaker events at Yonkers (and a prelim winner), came uncovered from fourth at the half and grinded up to challenge the leader nearing the 1:23.1 three-quarters. In the stretch, it was the 12-1 Incaseyoudidntknow who proved the stronger mare by three parts of a length at the end of the 1:51.3 mile.
Andrew McCarthy handled the impressive winner for trainer Les Givens and owners Jim Magno and Joe Fonte.
Undercard miles in fast times included a 1:49.2 coast-to-coast triumph by Da Delightful in a $13,000 pace. He set fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:22.1 and then still had a :27.1 kicker to down pocket-sitter Pat McGarry A by 1-1/2 lengths. The son of Bettors Delight was driven by David Miller for trainer/owner Mark Silva (the same trainer/driver who brought you South Beach Star).
In a $16,200 pace, another son of Bettors Delight, the gelding Burnham Boy N, held off favoured Komodo Beach by a half length in 1:49.4. Joe Bongiorno sent the Kiwi to the top and put down splits of :26.2, :55.1 and 1:21.4 in a solid score for trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of Enviro Stables LTD and Ken Jacobs.
Sunday’s card at 12:40 p.m. features a $20,000 Open Trot with Its Academic the likely favourite after a powerful victory at The Meadowlands. The next Harrah’s racing after that will be on Wednesday at 12:25 p.m., as the track begins its basic spring/summer schedule of Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.
(With files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)