Harrah's Philadelphia has cancelled its live harness racing card scheduled for Friday, August 9, due to expected adverse weather conditions. Live racing will resume on Sunday, August 11.
On Thursday, August 8, under "good" track conditions, Pappardelle, a Wishing Stone gelding, made a triumphant return after a four-month layoff. He led from start to finish winning the $20,833 fast-class trot in 1:53.4. Despite a couple of horses from the outside having initial speed, driver/trainer Joe Bongiorno managed to secure the lead early. Pappardelle, a winner of over $370,000, set fractions of :28, :57, and 1:25.1. Even-money favourite Sinatra De Vie, who had dull cover and went wide on the far turn, closed strongly but could not catch Pappardelle, who won by 1-3/4 lengths. Bongiorno trains Pappardelle for JB Racing, Joe Sbrocco, The Delaware Group, and JAF Racing LLC.
In the $16,667 co-feature handicap trot, Mister Lucky Sox S overcame a challenging "tuck-then-first-over" trip to narrowly defeat the odds-on favourite Rivers by a neck in 1:54.4. After a series of off-stride performances, Mister Lucky Sox S, driven by Rikard Skoglund, found his stride in Thursday’s conditions. The victory, for owners Engblom Stable LLC, Nicklas Oestergaard-Andersen, and Thomas Svensen, placed trainer Per Engblom in a tie with Mark Akins at the top of the Philly trainers’ standings.
George Napolitano Jr. celebrated a four-win performance on Thursday’s card.