The three-year-old Larry Karr upset older fast-class stock in the $18,000 pacing feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia during the final card of the 2018 racing season Sunday, Dec. 16.
A gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance, Larry Karr has now won three-straight races following a first-over effort in the closing-day feature. Favoured Mach Pride posted early splits of :28.3 and :57.3 over a “sloppy” track and then had the winner close on him at the 1:25.4 third quarter.
Through the stretch Larry Karr responded to urging from Yannick Gingras, who had four successful drives on the getaway card, and surged past the pacesetter by three-quarter lengths in 1:54.1. Pocket-sitting Sevens Hope A finished another half length back in third.
The sophomore’s human namesake, Lawrence Karr, co-owns part of the sharp pacer along with Frank Baldachino, Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Larry Karr’s victory was one of three wins on the day for trainer Ron Burke, who picked up his seventh Harrah’s training title with 130 wins. In the percentage competition (requiring one starter for a trainer every two cards), “Orange Crush” Julie Miller earned her first Harrah’s laurel after a .479-.475 decision over Jim Campbell.
Two very familiar names divided up the driving crowns. George Napolitano Jr. won his fifth-consecutive Philly dash title, and his seventh overall, with a 271-252 edge over Tim Tetrick. Tetrick himself has won five drivers titles at Philly – and in the track’s 13-year history, only Cat Manzi, who won the first driving crown, has put his name in this column other than this year’s one-two finishers.
In the UDR chase (one start per card minimum for drivers), Tetrick reversed the tables on Napolitano, posting a .356 UDR for the season vs. Napolitano’s .348. Tetrick has now won three-straight local UDR championships and seven overall here; George Nap has three, Yannick Gingras has two and Cat Manzi also won the first UDR title here to close the very select roster of driving champions on the local scene.
(With files from Harrah's Philadelphia)