By David Aldred
Queensland teenager Brittany Graham teams up with an old stable favourite to make her North American race driving debut in the third race at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon.
Graham, 19, one of two Queensland young guns experiencing an month long educational award in the US, will drive an ex-Aussie pacer Montana Pablo from the pole position in the $9,000 Conditioned Pace over one mile.
This season, Montana Pablo is a nine-start maiden for Gateway Farms trainer Darran Cassar and owner Joe Muscara but last season the pacer was in sizzling form, winning at Yonkers.
Before being exported to the USA, Montana Pablo was a real handy open class campaigner for Brittany’s father, trainer Darrel Graham.
The seven-year-old gelding by Blissful Hall won $123,068 with 18 wins and 18 placings from 79 Queensland race starts and had its last start in June 2013 at the Gold Coast when runner up to top mare Forever Gold,
Graham, who got the feel for North American racing, driving in a Qualifier at The Meadowlands recently, tweeted today, “Giddy up Pabzy”.
“I’m so excited for my first US drive on Wednesday,” She said.
The Harrah’s (Chester) Philadelphia Racetrack is one of North America’s best places for harness racing, boasting one of the fastest 5/8 mile horse racing surfaces anywhere with its first-of-its-kind in North America miracle turn that actually extends over the Delaware River with a specially constructed bridge. Top horses and top driver races at this track and Graham’s oposition on Wednesday will include USA’s 2015 World Driving Championship representative Tim Tetrick.
Graham and fellow Queensland young gun Trent Moffat, who have both been mentored by champion expat Australian trainer Ross Croghan during their educational stay in New Jersey, will return to Australia at the end of next next week.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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