Harrah's Philadelphia: Bythemissal prevails in Joe Auger Memorial

On the strength of a decisive 1:48 3/5 score May 10 at Eldorado Scioto Downs, double millionaire Bythemissal landed back in the Grand Circuit spotlight after grittily parrying a late charge from 56-1 outsider Spring Inhis Step A to seal a 1:49 win in the $100,000 Grade 3 Joseph Auger Memorial, for older pacers, on Sunday (May 25) at Harrah's Philadelphia.

In line to Yannick Gingras and sent off the 4-5 favorite, Bythemissal completed a third-to-first brush at the end of a 26 3/5 opening quarter to take control of the terms from Spring Inhis Step A while Harrah's Philadelphia track record holder Ruthless Hanover stalked in third.

After rating a 54 3/5 half, Bythemissal accelerated up the backstretch to evade a first-over challenge from Abuckabett Hanover, who was making his seasonal debut.

While Bythemissal managed to keep his outside foe at bay past three-quarters in 1:21 2/5, he found himself surrounded by challengers in the final yards as Spring Inhis Step A lunged forward up the open stretch and Mossdale Ben N mounted a four-wide push around stalling cover. Bythemissal held his ground to prevail by a neck over Spring Inhis Step A (driven by Tim Tetrick); Mossdale Ben N (Jordan Stratton) rallied belatedly for third, another half-length behind.

Bythemissal, now a 29-time winner with $2.4 million in earnings, is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. He paid $3.60 to win.

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On the undercard, Desperate Man scored his fourth win of the season in the $50,000 #SendItIn Invitational Pace, uncontested on the lead through splits of 26 2/5, 55 4/5 and 1:22 4/5 before staving off fellow millionaire Seven Colors to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:49 3/5. Matt Kakaley drove the even-money favorite to his 31st career victory for trainer Travis Alexander and owner Kathy Cecchin.

Ken Hanover overcame post eight to give a commanding performance in the $25,000 Open Pace, making the lead to the quarter and then storming home with identical 26 4/5 quarters to complete an easy victory in 1:48 3/5. Driver David Miller and trainer Roland Mallar teamed up with the son of Captaintreacherous, who has now won two straight for co-owners Mallar, Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.

--with files from the PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia--