from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — Two-year-old colts were featured in more than $190,000 of John Simpson Sr. stakes action at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday (Sept. 28), with Yonkers’ leading driver, Jason Bartlett, taking a rare excursion to metro Philadelphia and winning the first division of the colt action on both the trot and the pace.

Captain Malicious dominated his division of the pacing contests, going right to the front for Bartlett and posting fractions of :27.4, :57.2, and 1:25.4 en route to a 1-3/4 length victory over pocket-sitting Meetmeatthedance in 1:53.4. A winner of his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes consolation event, the victorious son of Captaintreacherous–Silky is trained by Ray Schnittker, who is also co-owner with Dr. John Egloff, John Frisch, and Max Hempt.

Speaking of leading drivers, George Napolitano Jr. tied Tim Tetrick at the top of the Philly drivers’ standings with his 175th win of the local season, going wire-to-wire in the second division of pacing colts with Hervey Hanover in 1:53. After early fractions of :27.2 and :56.2, the Somebeachsomewhere–Here Music Rocks son blitzed a :27.2 third quarter to open up a good distance on favored Southwind Ozzi, then held off that one’s steady late charge by a head. Andrew Harris handles conditioning duties for owner Brad Gray.

The Russell Hanover–Applique Hanover gelding Aflame Hanover was the fastest 2-year-old on the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes circuit this summer by virtue of a track record 1:56.4 win at Gratz. Today he showed he could translate his top form to pari-mutuel stakes conditions, heading right down the road and storming home in :55.2 to reduce his mark to 1:52.2 while defeating favored Jo Jo’s Place by 1-3/4 lengths. His next start for driver Tony Schadel and trainer/wife Linda, who are also his co-owners, should also be at a pari-mutuel oval — his Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championship on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 6) at The Meadows.

Prior to his trotting event the Crazed–Pyschotherapist gelding Our White Knight had six seconds and three thirds in nine career starts while earning $119,079, including a third in the New York Sire Stakes final. Bartlett was finally able to deliver him to the winner’s circle, using wire-to-wire tactics in setting fractions of :28.4, :59.4, and 1:29, then withstanding potential pocket rocket Jason’s Camden by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58. John Butenschoen is the trainer of Our White Knight, and David Arrenholz is the owner.

The Cantab Hall–Upside Hanover colt Klutzy became the only horse to win in the Liberty Bell stakes series last week and then come back with a Simpson victory this afternoon when he set fractions of :29, :58.4, and 1:28 on a clear lead for driver Eric Carlson, then won handily in 1:57.1. Julie Miller is the conditioner of the sharp colt for Stroy Inc. That victory completed all of today’s stakes winners using the engine as a means to victory.

Finishing Lines: Driver Eric Carlson had earlier solidified his position as Philly’s leading longshot handler, winning the eighth race with Hold It Hanover while paying $51.40 for his fifth $50-plus winner of the meet, putting him one ahead of Brett Miller. Carlson is also tied for the distinction of having the most $100-plus victories in 2018 at Philly: between him and Miller, they have piloted four of the six triple-figure win horses at the riverside oval.