Friday’s Penn Mile gives Major Dude a chance to bounce back from a third-place finish in the American Turf and several others a chance to try turf.
Tyler Conner, who piloted Wow Whata Summer to an 83-1 upset in the Penn Mile, earned Jockeys’ Guild Jockey of the Week honors.
Wow Whata Summer, off at 83-1, conjured up memories of Rich Strike’s Kentucky Derby when he scored in Friday’s Grade 2 Penn Mile.
Penn National’s biggest night of the racing year is Friday, featuring the Penn Mile and several other stakes. Some thoughts on the turf stakes.
Trainers Chuck Lawrence and McLane Hendriks – godfather and godson- are hoping to compromise the Penn Mile exacta with Wow Whata Summer and Witty.
Rains forced the Penn Mile from the turf to the main track, but that played right into Gershwin’s hands, as he was a dominant winner.
Derby Bill Watson and Nick Hahn join host Frank Vespe to handicap the Pimlico late Pick 5, which has a $115,000 carryover, and the Penn Mile.
A field of seven sophomore fillies will seek their first career stakes win in Friday’s $100,000 Penn Oaks, topping the Penn Mile undercard.
A field of seven runners will contest Friday’s renewal of the Grade 2 Penn Mile, among them multiple stakes winners Annex and Outadore.
After a one-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Penn Mile will return to the calendar for 2021 and take place on May 28.