The finish line photos could not be more different from a pair of Liberty Bell Series divisions that were held on Wednesday afternoon (September 21) at Harrah's Philadelphia.
In the first of two $40,000 divisions for Pennsylvania-sired three-year-old pacing fillies, favourite Newborn Sassy (Victor Kirby, $2.10) stalked race leader Terror At Night (Tony Morgan, $2.60) from the pocket through panels of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:24.3 before closing outside to match strides with the front-stepping filly at the wire in a 1:52 dead-heat victory. I Said Please edged out Keystone Riptide for third, finishing four and a quarter lengths behind the co-winners. Jo Ann Looney-King trains and co-owns Newborn Sassy with CC Racing LLC while Terror At Night is trained by Les Givens for owners Nanticoke Racing Inc., Edward Maas III, and Arlene Paisley.
Lispatty ($2.40), on the other hand, was all alone at the wire in the second split, with her nearest rival almost 10 lengths in arrears. Driven by George Napolitano Jr. for owner/trainer Gilbert Garcia-Owen, the popular daughter of McArdle gained a sizable lead through the :26.4 first quarter with Graceful Vision breaking stride from the two-hole. She cruised through middle splits of :55.3 and 1:23.2 without facing any challengers then drew off down the stretch to a 1:50.3 open-length triumph. Addy Girl and Heels On The Beach were the best of the rest.