Harrah's Philadelphia has cancelled its card of live harness racing slated for Friday, Aug. 9 due to the anticipated adverse weather conditions.
Live racing will resume at Harrah's Philly on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Over “good” going at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 8, the Wishing Stone gelding Pappardelle showed no ill effects from a layoff of just over four months, making every pole a winning one while taking the $20,833 fast-class trot in 1:53.4.
A couple of outside horses were fleeter than the winner as the gate sprung, but driver/trainer Joe Bongiorno coaxed enough speed out of Pappardelle to make the other leavers take seats behind him as the winner of more than $370,000 laid down fractions of :28, :57, and 1:25.1. Sinatra De Vie, favoured at even money to Pappardelle’s 7-5, had dull cover and had to go wide nearing the far turn. Sinatra De Vie closed strongly, but the winner had too much of a jump and hit the wire 1-3/4 lengths to the good. Bongiorno trains Pappardelle for by JB Racing, Joe Sbrocco, The Delaware Group, and JAF Racing LLC.
Mister Lucky Sox S overcame the difficult ”tuck-then-first-over” trip in the $16,667 co-feature handicap trot, as the 17-1 Mister J P gelding withstood a late move by odds-on favourite Rivers by a neck to win in 1:54.4. Offstride in his last three races, Mister Lucky Sox S had his lucky socks (or lucky shoes) on in Thursday’s muck as he won for driver Rikard Skoglund and owners Engblom Stable LLC, Nicklas Oestergaard-Andersen, and Thomas Svensen; the victory put trainer Per Engblom tied with Mark Akins atop the Philly trainers derby.
George Napolitano Jr. paraded back four winners during the Thursday card.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)