After a season with multiple successes over the five-eighths oval at Rideau Carleton Raceway this year, Warrawee Xalt made his stateside debut on Sunday, Dec. 15, at Harrah's Philadelphia, and prevailed in nearly lifetime-best fashion.
Jim Pantaleano was in the sulky behind perhaps the most impressive winner of the day, Warrawee Xalt, a Royalty For Life-Nobel Peace Prize trotting gelding. After an Ottawa-Toronto-Philly journey, Warrawee Xalt dominated his field with a powerful performance, stopping the clock in 1:53.3.
Hunter Oakes, making a successful debut with the talented gelding, trains Warrawee Xalt for owners Patrick Dillon and Patti Hoskin.
In addition to the thrilling U.S. debut, 20-1 longshot Whoodle Hanover capitalized on the scratch of the two favourites and three other competitors in the $17,143 featured trot. She made the most of her opportunity, leading at every call to dominate the field.
Pantaleano drove the Cantab Hall-Wohoo Hanover sophomore filly, who quickly took command in the first turn, set comfortable fractions and held off late challenges from Craft Brew Lindy (Tyler Miller) and Unique Wedding (Wayne Long). Both challengers fanned wide in the stretch but couldn't catch the leader, as Whoodle Hanover crossed the wire in 1:59.
Whoodle Hanover is trained by Neal Ehrhart for owner Jaypaul Hoover.
George Napolitano Jr., the eight-time leading dash-winning driver at Harrah’s Philadelphia, had a remarkable five-win day, scoring for five different trainers and winning by a combined total of 24 lengths. With 421 victories in Pennsylvania this year, split between Philly and Pocono, Napolitano leads all drivers in the Keystone State for 2024 and ranks eighth in North America for dash wins.
Two $10,714 races for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) were won by Raymond Burt in rein to the Jill Roland-trained trotter Mister Boinga in 1:59.2 and Geovany Hernandez aboard his own pacer Master Miki in 1:55.1.
For the final two weeks of the 2024 season, Harrah’s Philadelphia will follow a Friday/Sunday/pre-holiday Tuesday schedule.
Friday's first post will remain at 12:25 p.m., while Sunday’s will be at 12:40 p.m. The Christmas Eve card will kick off at 12 p.m., and the New Year’s Eve card will start at 4 p.m.
(With files from Harrah's Philadelphia, Photo of Warrawee Xalt from a previous win)