CHESTER PA – On a cold day where the track condition went from "fast" to "good" to "sloppy" during a dusting of snow, a day when speed did not hold up very well, the Mach Three gelding Internet Hanover was the star of the day, going wire-to-wire in 1:53.1 to win one of three co-featured $16,000 harness racing contests at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Tim Tetrick guided the impressive sophomore to the lead past a 27.4 quarter, got a breather to the half in 58, then put up a third quarter in 27.4 and then a fourth quarter in 27.3 – on a day where only one other race beat 29 home. Internet Hanover won by 5¼ lengths as the heavy favorite as he captured his third straight for trainer Scott Di Domenico and the ownership of Triple D Stables Inc., Daniel Kiwak, and Jay Spector.
In the other co-feature on the pace, when the track was still rated "good," the Yankee Skyscraper gelding Fox Valley Hijinx and trainer/driver Kyle Husted worked out the winning journey, just edging Lisburn by a nose in a personal best of 1:53.2. Lisburn had made the lead by the 27.2 quarter, then yielded to follow the heavy favorite Aleppo Hanover through middle splits of 56.2 and 1:24.1, with the winner sitting just behind them. Both horses behind the frontstepper moved out before the 3/4, with Lisburn putting away the speed, but then just missing against the late charge of Fox Valley Hijinx, who is owned by David Brigham.
The trotting co-feature produced no fewer than seven lead changes, with IMF the only horse to have the lead twice, including the most important point of command: at the wire in a 1:57.4 mile. IMF had made the lead in front of the stands the first time, yielded, was lucky to get out in a blindswitch at the ¾, then got a clear path and outfinished his opposition by 2¼ lengths. Yannick Gingras guided the Chapter Seven sophomore filly for trainer Ed Gannon Jr., their second successful teaming on a day where Gingras and George Napolitano Jr. had three wins, and trainer Gannon and driver Gingras share in ownership of the winner with Frank Canzone and Ronald Sabatini.
PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia