from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — New York invader Lyons Steel got a rest in the second quarter and then sprinted home in :54.3, reaching the wire in 1:51.2 — usually good enough to win a $16,000 conditioned pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia. But on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 8), the Sombeachsomewhere gelding Penzance Hanover, stalking him in the pocket, had just a bit more on the end, pirating the victory away from the front-stepper by a nose under the guidance of David Miller.

Penzance Hanover had made a break early upon coming to Philadelphia last time out, but he impressed the crowd enough in his recovery, from 14-1/2 lengths out at the quarter to only 1-3/4 lengths behind at the wire (though seventh), that they made him the 4-5 favorite. And Penzance Hanover rewarded the confidence, though it took longer than desired for the public and trainer Eric Ell, also co-owner with Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar Jr., Steve Iaquinta, and Toby Rekoon.

George Napolitano Jr. guided five winners home first on the Wednesday card for five different trainers. Napolitano is second to Tim Tetrick in the local standings, and they rank next to each other (Tetrick fourth, Napolitano fifth) in the national yearly totals. Napolitano is also the leading sulky-sitter 100 miles up the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The glamour division of the sport, the 3-year-old pacing colts, come to Philadelphia for weekend Pennsylvania-sired action. Friday’s card features three divisions of a PA Stallion Series contests, while on Sunday such well-known horses as Well Done, Wes Delight, Hayden Hanover, and Babes Dig Me will be doing battle in three sections of Sire Stakes competition.