Chester, PA — Pappardelle showed no ill effects from a four-month layoff, making every pole a winning one en route to a 1:53.4 win in Thursday’s (Aug. 8) featured $15,000 fast-class trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
A couple of outside horses were fleeter than Pappardelle as the gate sprung, but driver/trainer Joe Bongiorno coaxed enough speed out of the Wishing Stone gelding to make the other leavers take seats behind him through fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.1. Sinatra De Vie, favored at even money to Pappardelle’s 7-5, had dull cover and was forced wide nearing the far turn; he closed strongly, but Pappardelle had too much of a jump and Sinatra De Vie settled for second, 1-3/4 lengths behind. Pappardelle, who has now earned $359,845, is owned by JB Racing, Joe Sbrocco, The Delaware Group and JAF Racing LLC.
Mister Lucky Sox S overcame a difficult first-over trip in the $12,000 co-featured handicap trot, as the 17-1 Mister J P gelding withstood a late move from odds-on favorite Rivers by a neck to win in 1:54.4. After going off stride in his last three races, Mister Lucky Socks S won for driver Rikard Skoglund and owners Engblom Stable LLC, Nicklas Oestergaard-Andersen and Thomas Svensen; the victory put trainer Per Engblom in a tie with Mark Akins atop the Philly training standings.
George Napolitano Jr. drove four winners during the Thursday card.
With anticipated foul weather forcing the cancellation of Friday’s (Aug. 9) card, live racing returns to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Aug. 11) at 12:40 p.m. Free programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.