Southwind Ozzi, the 2019 Little Brown Jug and Adios winner, showed there is still plenty of spring in his step at age six, surviving the rough first-over trip to win the $22,500 handicap pacing feature on Sunday afternoon (May 8) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:49.4, tying for the fastest clocking of the season locally.
Tim Tetrick, who paraded home first six times before heading out late for stakes action at Pocono, got the son of Somebeachsomewhere away fourth as first favoured J M Mandamin and then Joesstar Of Mia A went to the top in a :26.4 quarter, with the latter rolling on to mid-splits of :54.1 and 1:22.1. Tetrick had Southwind Ozzi uncovered from the five-eighths and just kept grinding up towards the leader, finally getting by the determined pacesetter by a neck. J M Mandamin, after a good trip in the pocket, could only manage third.
Southwind Ozzi has now won three straight races at Philly while climbing the class ladder, and during his career, he has 27 triumphs from 70 starts and more than $1 million in earnings for trainer Bill Mac Kenzie and owners Vincent Ali Jr. and Alma Iafelice.
Lyons Steel didn’t look back in taking the $16,200 pacing co-feature in 1:52. The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, who raised his earnings to $587,458 lifetime, and driver Simon Allard laid down splits of :27.3, :56.3, and 1:24.3 over a track where being on or near the lead was usually a key to success, then blitzed home in :27.2 to defeat pocket-sitter Random Hanover by three-quarters of a length. Dennis Watson trains the gritty veteran for BD Racing LLC.
Harrah’s Philadelphia begins its usual four-card-a-week schedule (Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-Sunday) this coming Wednesday, which also marks the return of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series to the southeast Pennsylvania oval. More than $210,000 will be on the line in two Sire Stakes sections and four Stallion Series cuts.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)