$86,800 Simpson Stakes at Harrah’s Philly

On Thursday afternoon (Oct. 27), Harrah’s Philadelphia will be hosting two harness racing divisions of the John Simpson Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and gelding with total purses on the line at $86,800.

The first division, worth $43,200, is the 1^st race on the card and is highlighted by Pleaseletmeknow (American Ideal) from post four for driver Matt Kakaley.

Pleaseletmeknow enters the race with nine wins already this season. His biggest victories came in the first jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown, winning the Messenger Stake and then the gelding went on to win the $200,000 NYSS Final at Tioga Downs.

Trained by Travis Alexander, Pleaseletmeknow is a homebred, bred and owned by the Fiddler’s Creek Stable, LLC. Two starts back he won the $39,000 3 & 4-year-old Open at Yonkers in 1:52.4 and was second in that class last week.

His main opposition will come from Hecandancencruise (A Rocknroll Dance, post 2), who two starts back won at Pocono Downs in 1:51.4. That was his fifth win of the season. He will be driven by Tim Tetrick.

Also in the field are return winner Captain Cook (Captaintreacherous, post 3) and Rocknroll Gold (A Rocknroll Dance, post 1), who two starts back won over a sloppy track at Harrington Raceway in 1:56.4 for driver Art Stafford, Jr.

Later on the card in the 10^th race is the $43,600 second division of the John Simpson Stakes and features Energetic Hanover (Captaintreacherous) from post four for driver Todd McCarthy.

He scored his seventh win of the season just last week at Harrah’s Philly, taking a lifetime mark of 1:50. The $153,839 winner this year has won two of his last four starts for trainer Brett Pelling.

His main rivals include three return winners. Atlas Hanover (Captaintreacherous, post 7) comes into the race for trainer Tim Twaddle on a three-race winning streak, the fastest a 1:52.2 triumph both at The Meadows and Northfield Park. He will be driven by Mark MacDonald.

Layton Hanover (Captaintreacherous, post 6) has been racing against some of the best colts in the nation and just won his qualifying race at Pocono Downs in 1:53.4. Bounty Hunter (Huntsville, post 2) also won his last start in 1:53.3 in a qualifier at Harrah’s Philly and will have the driving services of George Napolitano, Jr.

First race post time Thursday is 12:30 pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink