Longshots rule in Philly features

CHESTER PA – Longshots ruled in the $14,000 fast-class handicap harness racing pace Sunday afternoon (July 7) at Harrah’s Philadelphia after heavy favorite Ervin Hanover was interfered with while behind non-advancing cover, but Wager On Me (Bettor’s Delight), a 14-1 shot, was quite impressive in his own right while taking a new mark of 1:48.3 on the hot day.

Tony Morgan got the gelding away in the pocket after Nicholas Beach (17-1) cleared right to the lead and put up splits of :26.2 and :55. The two-hole positioning was very important when Nicholas Beach hummed a :25.4 third quarter to reach the three-quarters in 1:20.4, not letting the outer tier, which included the chalk, getting near the front. The fast fractions caught up with the pacesetter, and Wager On Me went by him by 2½ lengths. The winner of $418,542 is trained by Joseph Columbo for George & Tina Dennis Racing.

WAGER ON ME REPLAY

Lyons Steel (Rock N Roll Heaven) also stopped the timer in 1:48.3 while winning the $11,000 fast-class pacing subfeature, taking a new mark at age nine. Simon Allard got the gelding to the top and rattled off fractions of :26.3, :54.3, and 1:21.1. The three-year-old Booming Economy did very well late but still was half a length shy of the winner of $752,986, who is trained by Jose Ramos and owned by BD Racing LLC.

LYONS STEEL REPLAY

Lyons Steel was associated for many years with trainer Dennis Watson, who passed away in March, and the pacer fittingly won the Dennis Watson Memorial at Freehold earlier this year.

The two-year-old colt Nikola J (Tall Dark Stranger – Ideal Newton) faced older opposition in his purse debut – a group which he defeated in 1:52, marking him as a colt to be watched for trainer Scott Di Domenico and the ownership of Oompa’s Farm Inc. and Joseph Barbera. Cowboy Cargo moved to the lead after a :27.4 quarter, got to the half in :56.4, then came under attack by first-over Moses to a 1:24.1 three-quarters. Tim Tetrick, leading driver on the day with four victories (and an appropriate driver given his friendship with NBA star Nikola Jokic), was in perfect second-over position with the baby, who showed : 27 speed coming home to defeat the game Moses by  a length.

NIKOLA J REPLAY

When Philly racing resumes on Wednesday at 12:25, bettors will have a big opportunity, as not only will there be a $7578.62 carryover going into the fifth race’s start of the Pick-5 wager, but the pool for the Pick-5 has been guaranteed to be $25,000! “Free money” awaits successful handicappers/bettors pondering the fifth through ninth races on the Wednesday card. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia