Drivers Tyler Buter and George Napolitano Jr. had the hot hands on a Simpson Stakes-filled Sunday afternoon (October 1) at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Both reinsmen drove five winners on the 14-race card, which featured a half-dozen John Simpson Memorial Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers ($35,000 divisions) and trotters ($36,000 divisions).
Buter won half of the stakes divisions, starting off with trotter I Know My Rights (1:57.4), a Muscle Massive-Celebrity Sweedie gelding he co-owns with trainer Lynette Buter and Gene Oldford Farms LLC.
Buter later won back-to-back divisions for trainer John Butenschoen with the streaking pacer Paprike Blue Chip (Roll With Joe-Bliss N Vinegar) in 1:51.4 and trotter Scirocco Rob (Explosive Matter-Fun At Parties) in 1:57.3.
Napolitano was aboard the other Simpson trotting star, Six Pack (Muscle Mass-Pleasing Lady), who was victorious in 1:55.4 for the Ake Svanstedt stable.
The remaining pacing divisions were won by Casual Cool (American Ideal-Sight To See) and driver Tony Morgan in 1:54.1 for trainer Linda Toscano and the Pat Berry-driven Yupper (Ponder-Real Nasty Miss) in 1:53.1 for conditioner Roland Mallar.
In other action, millionaire pacer Wakizashi Hanover earned his second straight top class victory for trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Truro, N.S. owners Bruce Kennedy and the Tri County Stable. Following an Open win at Harrington Raceway last Monday, Victor Kirby drove the five-year-old Dragon Again-Western Gesture gelding to a 1:50.1 triumph in Philly's $21,000 Winners Over Handicap Pace.