Troy Beyer, who’s been King Of The Harrah’s Philadelphia Longshot Drivers in the second half of this year, struck again in the $14,400 featured trot on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 17), guiding Gingertree Stakias to an $87.60 upset while equalling his mark of 1:57.
The Explosive Matter gelding got away last from the outside post eight, then was hustled out and up by Beyer before the half to reach third-over position. When his cover stalled midturn, Beyer sent Gingertree Stakias three-wide and moved into contention; favoured Keeper Of Secrets went inside pacesetting Big Sky Ex for the late drive, but Gingertree Stakias still got the job done for trainer/owner Jim Groff, with Keeper Of Secrets a head back and Big Sky Ex a length in arrears of those two.
Beyer has burnt out quite a few bulbs on the toteboard: the 26-year-old driver, having by far his best season both here at Philly and overall, has now brought home seven horses that have paid $50 or more to win -- no other driver has more than three such horses to his or her credit at the riverside oval.
The top-level fast-class pace of the day went to the veteran Bettors Delight gelding Mikes Z Tam in 1:51.4. After letting Indigo Art get to the top early, trainer/driver Pat Lachance moved the winner of $563,942 back to command, then breezed home in :55.2 firmly in control. Lachance also co-owns the winner with Z Tam Stables LLC, M & M Harness Racing LLC, and Royal Flush Stables LLC.
A $15,300 trotting event for horses winning their way up the class ladder will be the featured event at Philly tomorrow; the early favourite is Dazzling Reign, who has raced only once since September 30 but has been consistently close against classy three-year-old stakes fillies. Program pages for the 12:25 p.m. first race post card are available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)