Al Papi is now harness racing's all-time fastest 2-year-old pacing colt on a five-eighths-mile track after he won the first of two $69,182 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits on Thursday afternoon at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in 1:49 2/5.
Driven by Yannick Gingras, 3-5 favorite Al Papi led through fractions of 27, 55 4/5 and 1:22 2/5, then paced a 27 second final quarter to win by a length over a gaining Toast Of The Town (Dave Palone). Second choice Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) recovered from a brief break past the start to get third.
"He was impressive last week (a 1:51 3/5 sire stakes win at Harrah's Philadelphia) and today he was super," Gingras said afterwards. "Off those numbers he still had some left."
Trained by Ron Burke, Al Papi is a Papi Rob Hanover homebred colt for Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Al Papi has a summary of 3-1-1 from five outings, has put away $109,674 and paid $3.40 to win.
► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter
Frantic Hanover, another Burke trainee, improved to five-for-five this year with a 1:50 triumph in the other grouping. He let the dust settle from third through a 27 4/5 quarter, then came to the outside in the second quarter and brushed past Thai Hanover (David Miller) prior to the half in 56 seconds. From there, Frantic Hanover put up three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 and a last panel of 26 2/5 to defeat Thai Hanover by three lengths. Ain'tplayinnice (Gingras) checked in third.
"He's growing and learning how to do racehorse stuff that makes my job as a driver easier," Tetrick remarked after the victory.
Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Frantic Hanover is a Stay Hungry colt owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Brad Grant, Knox Services Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He has banked $153,564 and returned $2.20 to win.
--quotes courtesy of the MSOA--