Chester, PA — The royally-bred sophomore gelding Bee Forever won the trotting division of the $12,600 tri-features over a “sloppy” surface on Friday afternoon (June 11) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but there was much more drama involved than his 1-5 backers might’ve liked.

Padre wound up cutting the mile ahead of Dutiful, with Victor Kirby racing the victorious son of Muscle Hill–Bee A Magician in third-over position, swinging three-wide from seventh into the far turn and picking up horses rapidly. At the top of the stretch, Bee Forever looked an easy winner but he then in turn got rough, broke briefly, regained gait, and bore out. Dutiful found clearance along the inside and was narrowing in, but Kirby got the trotter straightened away and held on by a neck in 1:57.1.

The Valley Victory winner at two but heretofore winless in two 2021 starts, Bee Forever will continue to receive the attention of trainer Nifty Norman as he learns to maximize his obvious talent and eliminate unwanted behavior. Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, and David Mc Duffee co-own the winner of $239,708.

The feature for male pacers was won by Rockyroad Hanover, the heavy favorite coming off a third in a PA Sire Stakes and a win in the Stallion Series. The 3-year-old son of Captaintreacherous did not disappoint with a 1:53.3 victory featuring a :27.4 last quarter, with Andrew McCarthy taking the driving duties for trainer Tony Alagna and the partnership of Riverview Racing, Bradley Grant, Kenneth Jacobs, and Plouffe Head and VJ Stable.

The Somebeachsomewhere filly In High Cotton had to go the hard overland route, but she made the lead in the stretch then held off the filly on her back, Captainandtelly, by a neck in 1:54.2 in the distaff feature. Todd McCarthy, who posted four winners on the day, guided the winner to a new mark for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and the partnership of Kelly Hoerdt and Blair and Erna Corbeil.

The next racing card here is on Sunday, starting at 12:40 p.m. Featured will be two $16,200 fast-class paces, with higher money earners drawing for the outside posts. The eighth race event is for distaffs, while the tenth race will feature males such as recent local sub-1:50 winners Lyons King and Pyro. Program pages are available at the PHHA website.