from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — The final bell came just at the right moment for Tyson as he won one of two $14,500 featured trots at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (July 12), while in the other Ataboy Hanover stayed clear through the lane and won easily.

Tyson was the even-money favorite in his division of the feature, and despite the difficult tuck-then-first-over journey it looked like he had thrown the knockout punch going into the far turn, clearing to the lead and opening a 3-1/2 length lead by the stretch call.

But the Donato Hanover gelding was getting weary late, and he had to dig down deep to withstand Golden Son, who had led early, was shuffled, and then had a furious late rally, by a neck in 1:53.1, a lifetime best.

Tyson, now a winner of $171,345, is co-owned by trainer Ed Gannon Jr. and driver Yannick Gingras along with Frank Canzone.

Many of the same components of the first division showed up in the second — a 1:53.1 new personal best and a tuck-then-grind route that carried the leader to a 3-1/2 length lead at headstretch.

But there was nobody moving well late to threaten the winning Andover Hall gelding Ataboy Hanover, as his margin at the wire actually grew a bit, to 3-3/4 lengths, for driver Eric Carlson and trainer Mark Harder, the latter co-owner with Rick Phillips and Deena Rachel Frost.