George Napolitano Jr. held the hot hands at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, guiding Sister Christina to a new lifetime mark in one of the card's featured events.
Napolitano sent the Father Patrick sophomore filly Sister Christina to the lead, then was able to withstand a strong closing burst by Givem The Goo by a head in a career best 1:55.4. Jim Campbell trains the winner for Coyote Wynd Farms.
“G-Nap” also captured one of the two features for male pacers with the Always B Miki gelding Bionic in a career best 1:53.2. Napolitano’s aggressive style aided his horse here, as he was challenging raw against pacesetter Gretzky on the far turn when there was massive confusion behind them — caused by horses who hooked wheels. But the front two were well clear of that, and Bionic went on to pace away from the pacesetter by five lengths for trainer James Brown and Blazer One Racing.
The other division of the features for male sidewheelers also went to a three-year-old altered son of Always B Miki, as pacesetter Mikibytheseaside got passed by Louie The Looper going to the far turn, yet stayed on the bit and came back to catch that rival by a half-length in 1:52.2. Simon Allard did the driving for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Joseph Critelli, and William Switala.
The Art Major three-year-old filly Major Houlihan sat in the pocket behind Waterboard most of the way in the feature for distaff pacers, then outkicked her late to win by a length in 1:54.1. Marcus Miller drove the sophomore, now with two wins and two seconds in her last four starts, for trainer/owner Jeffrey Webster.
Two $14,400 events for “n/w 5 races lifetime” are the features on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card at Harrah’s Philadelphia; fast-class performers will have two $11,200 divisions on the program. Post time is 12:25 p.m.; program pages are available the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)