By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – Pappy Go Go now has two of the three fastest miles in North American harness racing during 2019 after he demolished a field by 6 3/4 lengths in the $18,000 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia Thursday afternoon.
George Napolitano Jr. held early position with “Pappy” from post four as the three inside him left, then pulled his trotter out just before the :27.4 quarter. Golden Son moved from the pocket just in front of him, and Napolitano briefly had his trotter three-wide before circling to the lead entering turn two, before the :56 half.
Pappy Go Go had a full head of steam down the backstretch and reached the three-quarters in 1:24, and he had no slowdown in him in the lane, equaling the time he posted at Pocono on March 30, which is just a fifth behind Insomniac’s 1:51.4 at Miami Valley on April 5. Andrew Harris trains the impressive winner, who now has 28 career wins and $155,517 in earnings, for Michael Goldberg Racing.
CHESTER PA – Pappy Go Go now has two of the three fastest miles in North American harness racing during 2019 after he demolished a field by 6 3/4 lengths in the $18,000 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia Thursday afternoon.
George Napolitano Jr. held early position with “Pappy” from post four as the three inside him left, then pulled his trotter out just before the :27.4 quarter. Golden Son moved from the pocket just in front of him, and Napolitano briefly had his trotter three-wide before circling to the lead entering turn two, before the :56 half.
Pappy Go Go had a full head of steam down the backstretch and reached the three-quarters in 1:24, and he had no slowdown in him in the lane, equaling the time he posted at Pocono on March 30, which is just a fifth behind Insomniac’s 1:51.4 at Miami Valley on April 5. Andrew Harris trains the impressive winner, who now has 28 career wins and $155,517 in earnings, for Michael Goldberg Racing.
If you have missed the “backstory” on Pappy Go Go, it is an interesting one. He is bred by William Andrew, who lives in Alberta – not a noted haven for trotters. He is a five-year-old gelding by the Prince Edward Island-based stallion Tad The Stud (whose second-fastest son has a mark of 1:57.2), and “Pappy” sold for $4,000 at a Nova Scotia yearling sale. 13 of those 28 career wins came during an undefeated sophomore stakes campaign in the Maritimes, and now based on his twin 1:52s it looks like Pappy Go Go may soon be facing a very elite brand of competition.
There were a pair of $14,500 subfeatures on the Philly “Trottin’ Thursday” card. The first was taken by the top Maryland campaigner Hybrid Henry, who made every pole a winning one while winning in 1:54 for driver David Miller, 2¼ lengths clear of his opposition. Arlene Cameron conditions and owns the Cam’s Rocket gelding, who now has lifetime earnings of $240,211.
The Cantab Hall gelding Perseverance was sent away quickly from the pole by driver Corey Callahan to protect pocket position behind the speedy Zagster, then was able to move outside for the stretch drive and catch the pacesetter by 1¾ lengths in 1:55.1. The Eric Ell trainee, a winner of $198,832, recorded his second consecutive victory for owners Ken Wood, Tribbett Racing, Bill Dittmar Jr., and Steve Iaquinta.
The drivers of the subfeature winners, Callahan and Miller, had the hot hands on the Thursday card, visiting Victory Lane four times each.
Harrah’s Philadelphia will conduct its first nighttime card of 2019 tomorrow night (Friday), with first post at 6:30 p.m. The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover heading into race 5 is $11,972.22. Harrah's Philly will also conduct Friday evening cards on May 17th, September 6th, and October 4th. Another soon-upcoming alteration to the normal Philly schedule is that there will be a special card of live racing on Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4, with first post at 12:40.
There were a pair of $14,500 subfeatures on the Philly “Trottin’ Thursday” card. The first was taken by the top Maryland campaigner Hybrid Henry, who made every pole a winning one while winning in 1:54 for driver David Miller, 2¼ lengths clear of his opposition. Arlene Cameron conditions and owns the Cam’s Rocket gelding, who now has lifetime earnings of $240,211.
The Cantab Hall gelding Perseverance was sent away quickly from the pole by driver Corey Callahan to protect pocket position behind the speedy Zagster, then was able to move outside for the stretch drive and catch the pacesetter by 1¾ lengths in 1:55.1. The Eric Ell trainee, a winner of $198,832, recorded his second consecutive victory for owners Ken Wood, Tribbett Racing, Bill Dittmar Jr., and Steve Iaquinta.
The drivers of the subfeature winners, Callahan and Miller, had the hot hands on the Thursday card, visiting Victory Lane four times each.
Harrah’s Philadelphia will conduct its first nighttime card of 2019 tomorrow night (Friday), with first post at 6:30 p.m. The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover heading into race 5 is $11,972.22. Harrah's Philly will also conduct Friday evening cards on May 17th, September 6th, and October 4th. Another soon-upcoming alteration to the normal Philly schedule is that there will be a special card of live racing on Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4, with first post at 12:40.
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