The high-level claiming pacers took a rare turn in the spotlight on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 14) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with Rickybobbynthehaus and Ship Wreck Beach K each victorious in their $12,000 divisions.
Rickybobbynthehaus, a winner in 1:50.2 here on July 17, has seen a lot of racetrack (limestone, not asphalt) in his three starts since, with seven “bubbles” in his nine calls at the first three spots. On Sunday, he was first over before the half and had to go on the grind, but he made his way to the lead in the stretch and then held off inside-shooting Yankee Osborne by a half-length in 1:52.1. The American Ideal gelding won for driver Trae Porter and owner/trainer Ronald Malone, but he’ll be headed now to another “garage” after being claimed.
After securing pocket positioning with the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Ship Wreck Beach K, driver Troy Beyer looked like he was about to face a positional shipwreck. Down the backstretch, Doubleagentman was able to clear pacesetter Windsong Jack with ease and had others tracking his brush. But Beyer was able to squeeze outside and then ducked in behind the new leader, then caught him along the inside by a nose in 1:52.3. It was the second winning combination of the day for Beyer, trainer Izzy Estrada, and Estrada Racing LLC; Beyer was the day’s top horseman with three wins in all.
In the American Harness Drivers Club amateur horsemen’s races, victorious on the pace were drivers Frank Tsipouras, Juan Cano, and Yogi Sheridan, with Johnathan Ahle successful on the trot. The local crowd needs to catch on to Tsipouras – this is the third straight week he’s won an amateur event here, and after paying $27.60 and $63.60 in his last two wins, he returned $24.60. In fairness, it was a tough day all around for favourites as only two chalks got home in the 14 races. Also, with many claiming horses for the AHDC and two divisions of the “big” claimers, business at the claiming box was active with eight horses changing hands for a total of $136,750.
Harrah’s Philadelphia continues its summer schedule of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday racing at 12:25 p.m. (EDT) and Sunday competition at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday’s (Aug. 17) card will have a carryover in the Pick-4 wagering in the very first race, that number being a patriotic-sounding $1,777.76 at the track near the City of Brotherly Love.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)