Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Ghee's House Wins Progress Pace

November 11, 2007

The Cheyenne Gang's Ghee's House (Brian Sears) snuck through along the inside in the final strides to edge Artzina (John Campbell) in the $350,900 Progress Pace Final on Sunday night at Dover Downs. The time of the mile was 1:50.4. Favored Sutter Hanover (David Miller) finished third.

Ghee’s House, a 7-1 shot, zoomed down the passing lane to win the $350,900 Progress Pace while 4-1 Great Success was the closest to a favorite from among three Matron Stakes Finals on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Brian Sears notched his second major win on the program rolling down the Dover Driveway to catch Artzina in the final strides to win the richest Progress Pace Final in its 12 edition. John Campbell had zipped Artzina quickly into the lead on the clubhouse turn and then shook off a determined bid from the David Miller-driven Sutter Hanover, the race favorite. Artzina the opened up a 2-length lead and seem on the way to victory when Ghee’s House thundered down the inside to stick his nose in front at the wire in a lifetime best 1:50.4. Sutter Hanover held on for third money.

The win was the third of the season and richest of his career for Ghee’s House leased by The Cheyenne Gang of Port Washington, N.Y. The Western Ideal pacer has now banked $369,633 this year and $482,600 in his two seasons of racing.

The longest of the longshots came when Lislea Phia, a Tim Rooney of Yonkers, N.Y. homebred, also made good use of the passing late at 42-1 to nip Little miss Dragon and John Campbell at the wire in a lifetime best 1:51.3.

Tim Tetrick guided the Lislea filly trained by Hall of Famer Harry Harvey to her eighth victory of the season. Race favorite Hana Hanover was used early and finished third for George Brennan. Alexis Hall (Keith Oliver), the leader during mid portion of the mile, saw a five-race win streak end.

Lislea Phia, named for owner Rooney’s granddaughter Sophia, has now earned $297,555 this campaign and upped her career total to 340,735 with her biggest lifetime win.

Godiva Hall, a Matron elim winner, won the $229,300 Matron Filly trot with trainer Trond Smedhammer at the controls. Pampered Princesss, the public choice, appeared in command after taking over at the half and John Campbell guided the $1.5-million winner into the stretch with a 2-length lead. Godiva Hall then picked up the tempo in the stretch to get up for the 154.4 win. Southwind Serna finished third for Yannick Gingras.

Owners SteveOldford, of Croswell, Minn. and Ed Oldford of St. Clair, Minn. And North South Partners of Atlanta, Ga. collected the winner’s half of the purse to push the Like A Pray filly’s 2007 earnings to $323,357 and 567,837 lifetime.

Great Success was the fourth choice in the wagering pool going off at 4-1 from post 8 with Brain Sears in the bike in the 1:55.2 triumph. Only obtained a little more than a month ago by prominent Holland, Mich. owner Lee DeVisser for his L&L Devisser group, the Tony O’Sullivan trainee has paid a big dividend.

Prayer I Am, with John Campbell driving, again had the lead into the deep lane but could not withstand Great Success’ closing burst. Photo Maxx, with Marcus Johansson, was the third place finisher.

The win was only the second of the year for Great Success, both coming on Matron weekends. The self Possessed colt extended his earnings this season to $290,316 and $388,241 lifetime.