Venerable impressive, Hammering Hank not

CHESTER, PA – Two of last year’s most impressive harness racing two-year-olds were in qualifying action on Tuesday (Sep. 27) morning at Harrah’s Philadelphia – one won impressively, while the other had a useful tightener.

The millionaire filly Venerable (Walner), one year and two days after her victory over colts in the Mohawk Million, won by 12½ lengths in 1:55.1 after fractions of :28.4, :58.4, and 1:26.4 for driver David Miller, trainer Nifty Norman, and the ownership of David Mc Duffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna, and Steven Arnold.

After going nine-for-eleven as a freshman and capturing her divisional honors, the filly had won a New Jersey Sire Stake, the Zweig Consolation, and a Hambo Oaks elimination this year, but has been missing from the racing scene since two breaking outings in early August.

The Captaintreacherous gelding Hammering Hank won three legs and the final of the Kindergarten Series at two and was 2-4 in his Breeders Crown starts; this year he posted a third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stake and a second in a Messenger elimination before being scratched on July 9 and not gathering a racing line since. In the qualifier, he got away last and finished sixth in 1:57.4, perhaps the start of a rebound for trainer/driver father/son Brett and Jack Pelling.

For complete qualifier results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia