Chester, PA — South Beach Star was parked most of a :53.3 first half en route to a 1:48.2 win at Pocono last week; on Friday (May 12) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the Somebeachsomewhere gelding saved the :53.3 half for the back of the mile, holding off favorite Lou’s Pearlman by a halflength in 1:49.1 to take the $20,000 Open Handicap Pace.

David Miller left swiftly with the sharp pacer, yielded to Lou’s Pearlman before the :26.2 quarter, then moved off the first turn to reclaim the lead and got a rest to the :55.3 midpoint. At that point, the afterburners kicked in, as South Beach Star paced :27.1 up the backstretch to a 1:22.4 three-quarters, then blazed home in :26.2 to finish out the powerful mile.

The Mark Silva trainee earned approximately $180,000 before this season, but he really has found himself as of late for All Star Racing Inc., having now won four consecutive races.

In the companion Open Handicap for fillies and mares, last year’s 3-year-old champion Treacherous Dragon fired off the gate to take the lead past a :26.1 opening panel, then got a respite and reached the half in :55.3. Incaseyoudidntknow, dismissed at 12-1, came uncovered from fourth at the half, ground up to challenge the leader nearing the 1:23.1 three-quarters, and proved the stronger mare by three parts of a length at the end of the 1:51.3 mile.

Andy McCarthy handled the Always B Miki mare for trainer Les Givens and owners Jim Magno and Joe Fonte.

Undercard miles producing fast times included a 1:49.2 coast-to-coast triumph by Da Delightful in a $13,000 pace and a 1:49.4 score from Burnham Boy N in a $16,200 pace.

Sunday’s (May 14) card, which begins at 12:40 p.m., features a $20,000 Open Trot with It’s Academic the likely favorite after a powerful victory at the Meadowlands. After that, racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia shifts to a four-day weekly schedule on Wednesday (May 17), featuring live racing on Wednesday through Friday afternoons at 12:25 p.m. and Sundays at 12:40 p.m. through the late spring and summer. Program pages for all Harrah’s Philadelphia cards are or will be available on the PHHA website.