9-1 longshot avoids trouble in Philly feature

CHESTER, PA – The pocket-sitting 9-1 Southport Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) avoided a breaking pacesetter nearing the stretch and came through to a 1:52.3 victory in the $12,000 claiming handicap pacing harness racing feature Sunday afternoon 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 the 1:23.1 quarter, and it was mid-far turn that Cliffhanger lost gait and was taken inside. Beyer kept Southport Beach out of major danger and then outfooted Rickybobbybthehaus by 1½ lengths in winning for trainer Marc Mosher and owner Jerry Zollo. He paid $20.20 to win.

SOUTHPORT BEACH REPLAY

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 triumph; Tony Beltrami scoring a driving double with Safensound Hanover and Secrecy; Frank Tsipouras lighting up the board with Cruise Patrol at $63.60; and two-time national Amateur Driver of the Year Dean Spriggs tallying 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 with a 12:25 p.m. post time. Program pages will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia