Employing virtually the same tactics that carried him to victory in his last Harrah's Philadelphia appearance a month ago, Lyons Steel ($4.20) rode the pocket to a decisive 1:50.1 win in Sunday's (Aug. 8) $16,200 top-level conditioned pace at the riverside oval.
Allan Davis vacated the pocket with Lyons Steel to seize control of the pace from Twin B Tuffenuff just beyond a :26.4 first quarter and then almost immediately yielded to Aflame Hanover, who brushed from third to clear the lead with a circuit to go. While Aflame Hanover controlled middle splits of :54.4 and 1:22.2 amid intensifying pressure from Quality Bud, Lyons Steel drafted behind the pacesetter and conserved energy for the sprint home. The six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding surged forward at first asking when the open stretch availed, powering to a 2-1/2-length score — his eighth of the season and the 30th of his career. Twin B Tuffenuff emerged from traffic to finish second over Proper One, who rallied three-wide off stalled cover.
Dennis Watson trains Lyons Steel for BD Racing LLC.
Todd McCarthy led all drivers with four wins on the 14-race card.
Racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 11), with a 14-race card due to begin at 12:25 p.m. (EDT) and an $883.56 carryover in the 50-cent Pick 5 (Races 5-9).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)