A pair of “pocket rockets” found their way home first to take the $11,200 co-featured events, one on each gait, at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday (July 24).
On the pacing side, the Somebeachsomewhere sophomore gelding Gingras Beach coverted off a pocket trip to win and take a new a lifetime mark. Gingras Beach made the top from post eight, yielded to Full Send, and stalked the leader to the final turn. He was angled out there by driver George Brennan, made the lead and then withstood a late move from Rogerthat Bluechip to win in 1:52.3. Brennan was engineered the victory for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Larry Karr.
In the trotting co-headliner, the Donato Hanover mare Across The Pond employed different tactics late in the mile to convert that trip to victory. Leaving from post two, Across The Pond yielded the front to Bosch past the quarter, waited in the two-hole, then angled to the passing lane to overtake the pacesetter and hit the wire in a lifetime best 1:56.3. Despite two post eights and a post seven in her only three previous starts of the year, the crowd let the ladies get away at a big price, as Across The Pond paid $61.80 to win for driver Jacqueline Ingrassia and trainer/husband Frank Ingrassia; the driver is also a co-owner with the Arden Homestead Stable, Donna Franchetti, and Thomas Doran.
Three races later, another driver in green and red colors was in the winner’s circle after posting a bigger surprise than the one turned in by Across The Pond. Victor Kirby sent Bo Knows, making only his second lifetime start, up uncovered down the backstretch after 1-9 pacesetter Light Up The Park. Bo certainly knew what to do, grinding down the leader and drawing clear in the stretch for a new mark of 1:54 while returning $110.40 for a $2 win ticket.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)