Pocket-sitting Southport Beach avoided a breaking pacesetter nearing the stretch and came through to a 1:52.3 victory in the $12,000 claiming handicap pacing feature Sunday afternoon (Aug. 7) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Southpoint Beach went to the lead early for driver Troy Beyer and got to the front in :26.3, but then a host of challengers came on in the second quarter: Cliffhanger, who had gotten to the top nearing the second turn; Rickybobbynthehaus, who moved with that one’s cover but then was stuck first-over at and past the :55.4 half; and Jaffa Josh N, a winner in this class last week and here second-over. Cliffhanger and Rickybobbynthehaus battled past three-quarters in 1:23.1, but Cliffhanger lost gait midway through the far turn and was taken inside. Beyer kept Southport Beach out of major danger and then outfooted Rickybobbynthehaus by 1-1/2 lengths in winning for trainer Marc Mosher and owner Jerry Zollo.
There were five pacing divisions of American Harness Drivers Club action for amateur drivers, and there was a story in every one. Chris Temming guiding his own Wardan Express N to a lifetime mark of 1:51.1 while recording only his second driving victory. Tony Beltrami scored a driving double with Safensound Hanover and Secrecy. Frank Tsipouras lighted the board with Cruise Patrol at $63.60. And two-time national Amateur Driver of the Year Dean Spriggs tallied with Far Better. In an AHDC trot, River Otter repeated his successful wire-to-wire tactics at Pocono last week with a 1:56.1 engine win for driver Bob Hechkoff.
Racing will resume at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 10) with a 12:25 p.m. (EDT) post time. Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)