Following a driving grand slam on Friday's (March 29) opening card at Harrah's Philadelphia, defending driving champion George Napolitano Jr. again asserted his dominance by posting six wins during Sunday afternoon's (March 31) 12-race card.
Cruise Patrol's ($3.00) 1:50.4 win in the eighth race, a $14,500 upper-level conditioned pace, was the cornerstone of Napolitano's six-bagger. The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight used a :26.4 first quarter to seize command from Dream Out Loud N (who was driven by Dexter Dunn) before rating a :29.1 second quarter split and powering away up the far side to put three lengths of clearance on his pocket rival. Turning for home, Dream Out Loud N began to close in, but Cruise Patrol ultimately held his ground, driven out to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.4. Machiavelli (Simon Allard) held third, another four and a half lengths back, after stalking the top flight throughout.
For trainer Mike Dowdall, Cruise Patrol was one of three winners on the afternoon.
Cruise Patrol, pictured victorious at Harrah’s Philadelphia on March 31, 2019
Napolitano also teamed up with Dowdall trainees Mayfield Duke ($3.60, 1:53) and Track Master D ($5.00), along with Gilbert Garcia-Owen trainees CCs Desire ($2.80, 1:52.4) and Our Regal Ideal N ($6.80, 1:53), and Norm Parker pupil Unlocked ($2.60, 1:53.1).
Live racing will return to Harrah's Philadelphia with a 12-race program on Thursday (April 4). Post time will be at 12:25 p.m. (Eastern), and the fifth-race 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 will feature a carryover of $1,656.80.
(Harrah's Philadelphia)