Last season’s important two-year-old Hammering Hank made another forward step in his 2022 form by winning a Tuesday morning (Oct. 4) qualifier at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:57.4, in sub-50 degree temperatures and over a “sloppy +2” track.
The Captaintreacherous gelding paced his own back fractions in :57.1 - :28.1, making up seven lengths in the last quarter to win by half a length over Sparrow Hanover.
Driven by Jack Pelling for trainer/father Brett and the ownership of 3 Brothers Stables, Pelling Racing LLC, and Rojan Stables, Hammering Hank was eight-for-11 as a two-year-old and put over $280,000 on his card. He won the PA Stallion Series Final and the Kindergarten Final while also finishing second and fourth in his Breeders Crown elimination and final divisions, respectively. This year he was third in a PA Sire Stakes and second in a Messenger elimination before going to the sidelines.
It seems appropriate that Hammering Hank, named after baseball all-time great Hank Aaron, would win his morning session on the same day that another noted home run hitter, Aaron Judge, would break the American League record with his 62nd homer of the year.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)