Knockout Round, Pack A Punch deliver powerful Philly wins

CHESTER PA – Knockout Round just had too much power for his opposition in the $13,500 pacing feature for developing horses on Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the sophomore son of Sweet Lou winning his second straight at this level, here in 1:50.4.

KNOCKOUT ROUND REPLAY

Knockout Round led for every one of the 5280 feet of the featured race, leaving the gate swiftly enough for driver Mark Herschberger to force Chief Bogo to go into the two-hole, where he sat as the winner put up fractions of :27, :56, and 1:23. Chief Bogo came out to try the winner in the stretch, but Knockout Round had too much pace in reserve, winning by three quarters of a length for trainer Tony Alagna and the ownership of Micki Rae Stables LLC and Riverview Racing LLC. The improving pacer has now captured three of his last four trips behind the gate.

The Tall Dark Stranger gelding Pack A Punch, continuing the theme of the names of the feature winners, stayed on between horses to get the lead at the quarter, then had enough to turn away all challengers in the $12,000 co-featured pace for up-and-comers.

The sophomore established a new lifetime mark of 1:51.2 after laying down splits of :27.1, :55.3, and 1:23. Americagreatagain enjoyed a two-hole trip but still was three parts of a length shy of Pack A Punch, who was driven by George Napolitano Jr. for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner-brother John.

PACK A PUNCH REPLAY

In both $11,000 divisions of the top claiming handicap pace, there were duels between leaders and horses attempting quarter-moves who could not clear the frontsteppers, making for fast paces and horses to take advantage of good trips. The faster of these events was won by the McWicked gelding T H McMurry, who gained behind wicked splits of :26.2, :54.1, and 1:22.2, then went wide in the lane and was along for driver Corey Callahan while taking a new mark of 1:50.4. Trainer Todd Warren co-owns the winner of four of his last five starts with Lester Peters.

In the other claiming cut, the JK Endofanera gelding T J’s Indy Pacer sat in the two-hole behind argued fractions of :26.2, :54, and 1:22.2, then went to the inside, and his late effort  put him a nose ahead of Odds On Liquidity, who came charging home out wide to make the battle for first very interesting. Mike Cole was in the sulky behind the winner of two of his last three races for trainer Mike Terpolilli and owner Mayra Palma.

George Napolitano Jr. won the last four races on the card to take the sulky crown for the day, and now has seventeen winners in his last five appearances at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia resumes on Thursday with a 12:25 start; the usual strong card of Philly’s “Trottin’ Thursday” will be featured, as will simulcasting of the Little Brown Jug card – plus there will be a carryover into the first race Superfecta. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia