Hank Nothhaft returned to his home state with a half-sister to Finest City today and little sis lived up to her end, taking the New Start at Penn National.
An evenly matched group of eight fillies is set to face the starter in Saturday’s Penn Oaks at Penn National.
Take Cover, who scored a mild upset in the 2016 edition of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup, seeks to defend that title Saturday.
Though he’s favored, Page McKenney figures to get a stiff test in Saturday’s $200,000 Mountainview Stakes at Penn National.
The Grade 2, $500,000 Penn Mile anchors a day with seven stakes and more than $1.5 million in total purses.
Forty-two horses are nominated to the Grade 2 Penn Mile, which anchors a seven-stake card at Penn National.
Mid-Atlantic handle rose in March versus the prior month, though the average was essentially flat.
Penn National, typically a nighttime track, will run daylight cards on four Saturdays this year: all three Triple Crown days, plus Penn Mile.
February’s Midlantic average handle was basically flat versus the prior month; Laurel Park led with an average over $2.1 million, while Parx’s increase of 9 percent was tops.
Bigger purses have changed the claiming game, presenting challenges – and opportunities – for both horsemen and racetracks.