Chester, PA — After winning the inaugural Joseph Auger Memorial Invitational for older male pacers last year with a world-record 1:46.3 effort, Ruthless Hanover returned to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday to capture the event again, this time with a 1:47.2 score as he held off Ken Hanover by a half-length. Coaches Corner finished third.

Two races earlier, 4-year-old female pacer Twin B Joe Fresh put in a dominant performance to win the $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational by nearly seven lengths in a stakes- and track-record 1:48.2.

Ruthless Hanover fended off Ken Hanover in the stretch to win the Joseph Auger Memorial Invitational. Grace Zimmers photo.

In the Auger, Coaches Corner took the field to the opening quarter in :26.3 before driver Andy McCarthy pushed forward with Ruthless Hanover and claimed the top position on the way to a half in :54. Ruthless Hanover, the 4-5 favorite, rolled to three-quarters in 1:20 and fended off Ken Hanover in the stretch to win for the second time in two starts this season for trainer Tom Cancelliere.

“He really likes to roll on the backstretch,” McCarthy said. “It worked out where I didn’t have to use him that hard to get to the top. We went a half in :54, but it was a pretty rated half, so I decided to turn him loose on the backstretch and play catch me if you can.

“I was just trying to keep him feeling good about himself. He’s a very, very fast horse and usually when he races, he races very hard. Tommy is doing a great job to keep him ready and fit and able to race like that.”

Ruthless Hanover, a 7-year-old gelding, is owned by John Cancelliere. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Rockaroundthetrack was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. He has won 24 of 56 career races and earned $633,495.

In his first start of the season on May 19, Ruthless Hanover won in 1:47.1 at Philly with McCarthy in the sulky.

“Any horse that can go that fast is a fun horse to drive,” McCarthy said. “He’s got a lot of horsepower there. He’s a thrill.”

Ruthless Hanover paid $3.60 to win in the Auger.

Twin B Joe Fresh put in a dominant performance to win the $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational by nearly seven lengths in a stakes- and track-record 1:48.2. Grace Zimmers photo.

Twin B Joe Fresh made it look easy in the $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational for older female pacers, winning by 6-3/4 lengths in a stakes- and track-record 1:48.2 for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Chris Ryder. Always B Naughty got the nod in a photo for second, edging Coachellabound N.

Lit De Rose led the field to the opening quarter in :26.3, but her advantage was short-lived as Twin B Joe Fresh took over the top spot with five-eighths of a mile to go. She posted fractions of :55 to the half and 1:22.2 to three-quarters on her way to victory.

“It’s not the first time she’s given us a great race, but it’s exciting to see her come back so well straight away,” Ryder said. “It was very exciting to see her open up as strongly as she did today. I pinch myself, she’s such a good horse. People say you’re doing a good job, but she’s the horse. She’s terrific.”

Twin B Joe Fresh finished second against male rivals in her seasonal debut on May 19 at Philly.

“She needed the race,” Ryder said. “I don’t like to drill her too much at home. She’s a heavy mare, carries a lot of weight, so the race helped her a lot and here we are. It’s racing time.”

Twin B Joe Fresh has won 20 of 29 career races and earned $1.49 million for owners Ryder, Dunn, Peter Trebotica, and Barry Spak. The daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze was bred by Brittany Farms.

Her winning time in the Betsy Ross set the track record for a 4-year-old pacing mare, which was shared previously by Caviart Ally and Max Contract.

Twin B Joe Fresh, the 1-5 favorite, paid $2.60 to win.

South Beach Star wins Senditin Invitational

South Beach Star won for the second time in three starts this season, capturing the $50,000 SendItIn Philadelphia Invitational by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:48.2 for driver David Miller and trainer Mark Silva. Backstreet Shadow finished second and Maximus Miki was third.

For his career, South Beach Star has won 27 of 75 races and earned $429,494. The 6-year-old gelding is owned by All Star Racing. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Higher And Higher was bred by Daryl Bier and Charles Dombeck.

Sent off as the 5-2 third choice, South Beach Star paid $7 to win.