Chester, PA — Driver Victor Kirby got the job done in the two pacing features among the three $14,400 headliners at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon (Dec. 24).

The contest for the pacing males was a fierce one, with Jackie Moon making the lead past a :27.3 quarter, then pushing Moonlight Shadow most of the way to the :55 half before surrendering the advantage. Kirby kept Jackie Moon in the pocket to the 1:23.2 three-quarters and to head stretch, where he pulled the Racing Hill sophomore gelding, and the pair just reeled in a game Moonlight Shadow by a neck in 1:52.3.

Rob Harmon saw his new acquisition score in only his second start for the barn; his ownership is Anthony and Michael Hill.

In the pacing distaff contest, Kirby teamed with trainer Ron Burke to win with the Bettor’s Delight sophomore filly Divine Deo in a new mark of 1:54.2.

Kirby sent the winner right to the top near the quarter and kept control to the wire with a :56.3 last half, recording her seventh score of the year and second since being acquired by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

In the trotting feature, the Yankee Glide mare Brigitte Bi took early control from the pole for driver George Napolitano Jr., then sprinted home in :57.3 to maintain a 1-1/4 length advantage over Storm Bringer in 1:56.3. On her best behavior, the Juan Cano-trained distaff has shown solid ability for owners Timothy Betts and Deerwood Trail Racing.

The 18-year-old driver Brett Beckwith made his Philly winner’s circle debut in style, bringing home Lanas Desire for new owner/trainer Walter Birney Jr. while paying $128.80 as only the third horse to win from fourth-over all year at Philly.

Young Beckwith is close to a million dollars in earnings in his first full year of driving, and he certainly has a million-dollar pedigree: father Mark (5,869 driving wins) and mother Melissa (2,054 training wins and having her best season with $1.37 million in earnings in 2021), and grandfathers Jerry Silverman (Hall of Famer) and Bert Beckwith, one of New England’s best for many years from the 1960s on.

Being the only harness track in the United States Friday afternoon, and one of only three tracks in all U.S. racing, helped Harrah’s towards a happy holiday with a handle exceeding $1.19 million.

Harrah’s Philadelphia will be back in action on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. J M Mandamin will start from the outside post seven for Team Bongiorno in the $22,500 handicap pacing feature. Program pages are available at the PHHA website.