South Beach Star shines bright in Philly

CHESTER, PA – The rampaging South Beach Star (Somebeachsomewhere) overcame the outermost post in winning the $13,000 fast-class handicap harness racing pacing feature in 1:50 on Sunday afternoon (June 2) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The victorious gelding was limbed three- then two-wide past a searing :25.4 opener, but driver David Miller (the only professional driver of the day to have a triple) kept the horse pressing onward to the lead in front of the stands.

South Beach Star got a breather to a :55.1 half, sharpened the speed as first-over Camara Moment ranged up, and paced home with two :27.2 quarters in holding off the persistent grinder by a length.

South Beach Star, the winner of the Senditin Invitational here on Super Sunday last week, now has three straight wins after opening his year being beaten a neck while second. A career winner of $435,994, the “Star” is trained by Mark Silva for All Star Racing Inc.

SOUTH BEACH STAR REPLAY

The American Harness Drivers Club made their 2024 debut at Philly with two trots and a pace, and driver Newton “Yogi” Sheridan got the big “pic-a-nic basket” in all three contests.

The trots were pretty straightforward, with both winners trained by Terry Morgan: Sheridan fronted his field with Lionhead (Uncle Peter), whom Morgan owns, in a 1:57.2 victory, then rallied from the two-hole with Drazzmatazz (RC Royalty) to get home first in 1:58.3 for Danbry Racing Inc.

DRAZZMATAZZ REPLAY

The pace was quite a spectacle. With no fewer than five horses in the eight-horse field being four-wide for a portion of the mile, it was the pacesetter, Transfer The Era, who crossed the wire first in 1:56.4. However, Transfer The Era decided to join in the wide action and bore out in the stretch, impeding Rock Idol (Rockin Image) and Sheridan, with the result that Transfer The Era was placed second behind Rock Idol, who is trained and owned by Dean Eckley.

ROCK IDOL REPLAY

The racing week at Harrah’s this coming week consists of Thursday and Friday cards at 12:25 and a Sunday card at 12:40. With Sire Stakes fillies coming in on Sunday and perhaps some two-year-olds making their pari-mutuel bow, there may be enough horses for Harrah’s to add Wednesdays on June 12. Free Philly programs will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia