Chester, PA – Misty Coast, an invader from Harrington, yielded command to sit a perfect pocket trip, then came back in the stretch to defeat Front Page Story by a nose in 1:50.2 to take the $14,500 distaff pacing feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon (July 5).

Misty Coast, a 4-year-old daughter of Powerful Mist who has won several Championship races in Delaware Breeders Fund competition, lowered her mark by two seconds for trainer Les Givens and owner Stephen Messick, and was required to in order to defeat her talented opposition.-

After taking the lead in a :26.4 opener, Misty Coast yielded to Front Page Story, who was coming off a 1:49.4 mile and went to the half in :55.4, then picked up the tempo as favored Sarasota Hanover, a recent 1:48.1 winner, came to challenge approaching the 1:23.3 three-quarters. The winner and driver Corey Callahan made the most of their two-hole journey as they stepped home in :26.4 to defeat Front Page Misty, with Sarasota Hanover another 1-1/4 lengths back.

There were also three $12,000 divisions of the top-level claiming handicap pace, with trainee Dean Eckley and owner Ameer Najor clicking twice, including the fastest winner, the Trust The Artist gelding Trip Hamm (July er, who won in 1:50.2 for driver George Napolitano Jr. Their other success was with the Western Ideal ridgling Go West Go Fast, whom they reclaimed last week and got quick dividends with a 1:51.1 win for driver Simon Allard.

The other co-feature winner, and the only one who was claimed, was the JK Endofanera gelding He’s Gonna Getya, who made the trip up from Ocean Downs for trainer/owner John Wagner, lowered his mark to 1:52.1 with a thunderous late kick for driver Tony Morgan, and then was taken for $25,000.

Allard took the driving honors on the day with four victories; Eckley led all conditioners with three successes.

Sunday’s (July 7) 12:40 p.m. card has an outstanding $15,000 fast-class handicap pace as its headliner, with Ervin Hanover the early favorite; Harrah’s top driver, Tim Tetrick, had the choice of four horses in the race, and he picked Ervin Hanover. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.