Dean B Hanover benefitted from yet another clever drive by the meet’s leading driver Tim Tetrick to win Sunday afternoon’s $20,000 Open Handicap Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia while equalling his lifetime mark of 1:49.3.
The victorious Betting Line gelding got away fourth as Rip Wheeler, fresh off the season’s fastest mile of Pocono at 1:48.1 and stepping up to “the big boys” here, headed right down the road in fractions of :26.4, :54.4 and 1:21.2. It was only entering the far turn that Jilliby Dynamite A (second) and Lous Pearlman (third) moved out to position themselves for late challenges, leaving Tetrick (who had a 9-4-3-1 Philly afternoon before heading to Pocono for stakes action) plenty of room to have his pacer gain inside.
Through the stretch, Dean B Hanover, recording his third straight win, had an open road and was up by a length over Jilliby Dynamite A, with Lous Pearlman third; favoured Southwind Gendry, who paced this track in 1:47.2 three weeks back, was assigned the outside, didn’t like his leaving chances, then came on strongly late to miss less than two lengths. Dean B Hanover is a lifetime winner of $392,475 and he is co-owned by trainer Jeff Cullipher, Philly’s leading trainer, and Pollack Racing LLC.
Pollack/Cullipher also teamed for the day’s fastest mile, a 1:49.1 new lifetime best by the Sportswriter gelding Sport Secret. Andy Miller sent Sport Secret right down the road and he held off millionaire Workin Ona Mystery by a half-length.
There were a pair of $15,300 sub-features and the pacers were topped by another Sportswriter gelding, Sporty M Three. “Sporty” had had three good seconds since a recent layoff and made the breakthrough to the win column while setting a new lifetime best of 1:50.3 for driver Simon Allard, trainer Ron Burke and Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Sporty M Three came overland to catch the game sophomore filly Ginger Tree Coco by a neck.
In the trotting co-feature, Brave By Design sat behind Betterinpinehurst as that one put up splits of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:25, then came up the inside to catch him by a neck in 1:54.1. David Miller drove the Walner gelding for trainer Jenn Bongiorno and Brave By Design Stable.
Frank Tsipouras braved a parked journey and Beltrami hammered down the road to win their respective $9,900 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot.
In the first division, Tsipouras floated Rickybobbynthehaus off the wings but failed to find a position at the pylons with One Lucky Dude (driven by Joe Lee) and Sporty Dragon (Raymond Burt) protecting their forward position to a :27.4 first quarter. Tsipouras nonetheless advanced and kept Rickybobbynthehaus at One Lucky Dude’s throat through a :57 half and to three-quarters in 1:25.1. Though the wide route appeared overly taxing for Rickybobbynthehaus as he lost ground on the leader around the final turn, he was resurgent upon straightening and collared One Lucky Dude by a neck at the end of a 1:54.4 mile. Sporty Dragon held third and Nathan Feelsgood (Paul Minore) took fourth.
Crissy Crissman-Bier trains Rickybobbynthehaus, a seven-year-old gelding by American Ideal, for owner P T Stable. He paid $18.80 to win.
Tony Beltrami went another gavel-slamming mile with his charge All Rise to lead pillar to post in the other division, timed in 1:56.4. Beltrami cleared command to a :28 first quarter over an eager Sorprese (Frank Tsipouras), who soon vacated his position and plied an attack on the leader through the middle half of the race. All Rise stood to the task through splits of :57.1 and 1:26.1, disposing of Sorprese to the final turn and pulling two-lengths clear to the finish. Campbellini (Dante Scattolini) grabbed second with Masster Blue (Joe Lee) third and Sorprese fourth.
Paul Fusco conditions All Rise, a six-year-old gelding by Conway Hall, for owner Beltrami. He paid $5 to win.
Philly’s current racing schedule is Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m. Program pages for all races at Harrah’s Philadelphia are or will be available on the PHHA website. AHDC action continues next Sunday (June 25) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia / AHDC)