Five-win day for Montrell Teague

CHESTER, PA – Feature race winners Givem The Goo and Big Stretch Mark shared the Friday spotlight at Harrah’s Philadelphia with driver Montrell Teague, who guided five horses to victory – although one could not say that the quintet were exactly prime candidates for visiting the winners circle.

They had been a collective 4-for-83 in 2021 entering the day, but are now 9-for-88 after responding to Teague’s touch. George’s fans were rewarded with win payoffs of $55.00 and $33.20 among the five winners.

The Googoo Gaagaa sophomore gelding Givem The Goo lowered his mark almost three seconds in winning the $12,600 featured trot in 1:55.3. Russell Foster and Givem The Goo were well-placed in the pocket behind pacesetting Tuff To Be Lindy, then picked that one up in the stretch to win by 2¾ lengths for trainer Kerry Welty and owner Brian Emerson.

GIVEM THE GOO REPLAY

Big Stretch Mark surrendered the early lead to sit a two-hole trip behind heavily favored Itsonlyrocknroll A in the $11,200 fast-class pacing feature, then came back to catch him by a half length in 1:53.2.

The Artiscape gelding, now a winner of $205,511, is trained by Paul Jessop, co-owner with Donato Falcicchio, and was driven by George Napolitano Jr. in his last appearance of the day at the riverside oval before heading for night work at The Meadowlands.

BIG STRETCH MARK REPLAY

This Sunday (September 5) Harrah’s Philadelphia will be hosting the $320,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championships, with all eight divisions of two- and three-year-olds looking for bragging rights within their own ranks; no group had a horse win all four preliminaries, so there should be many competitive contests among the stakes. (The Labor Day Monday card has been abandoned due to lack of horses.) And Friday, September 10 will be the 15th Anniversary of the Harrah’s plant, with so many activities planned they pushed the post time back from 6:30 to 6 p.m.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia