Pass And Stow overcame a rough trip from the outside post in the $18,056 fast-class distaff pacing feature on Friday, Sept. 12 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, gamely grinding to the lead in the stretch and then holding off Mybitcoin by a neck in 1:52.1.
The favourite, Pressure Cooker (George Napolitano Jr.), darted out to the immediate leader, with second choice One More Bet (Pat Lachance) quickly filling the hole behind that one. That left Pass And Stow, driven by Jack Pelling, three-wide and then two-wide well past a :27.3 opening quarter, after which she did make her way into the three-hole, where she sat while Pressure Cooker passed the middle poles in :56.2 and 1:24.2.
Pelling moved Pass And Stow outside to challenge on the far turn and into the stretch and the four-year-old Betting Line-OK Heavenly mare proved equal to the challenge, withstanding the late charge of Mybitcoin (Colin Kelly) by a neck to tally for trainer Andrew Harris and the ownership of West Winds Stable and Mark Dumain. Pressure Cooker and One More Bet finished less than a length back in third and fourth, respectively. Pass And Stow paid $13 for the mild upset at 5-1 odds.
Pelling came right back to win the $16,667 trotting section of the sub-feature, not looking back with the Greenshoe-Im On Cloud Nine sophomore gelding Im Early Hanover ($24.20) and then holding off Morning Angel (Tyler Lopes) by a half-length in a new mark of 1:56.4, with a last quarter of :28.3. Nola Leager trains and owns Im Early Hanover, a winner in three of his last five starts.
Colin Kelly, the young Canadian horseman with more than 2,200 victories to his name already and trying the racing south of the border this season, won the female pacing division of the $16,667 sub-featured class for his first victory over the local oval. He sent the Stay Hungry-Odds On Palm Beach sophomore filly Odds On Aces Full ($2.40) straight to command, then came home in :55.1 and :27.1 to complete a 1:52.1 success for trainer Scott Di Domenico and owner Odds On Racing.
George Napolitano Jr., a 12-time crown winner in the Philly driving ranks, posted four victories on the day, giving him 13 tallies during the four September racing cards in which he has competed at Philly.
Philly will be back in action with a Sunday card starting at 12:40 p.m., with up-and-coming pacers spotlighted.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)