Thanks to the luck of the draw, Prospect Hill and Demon Onthe Hill never have met in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes competition. Now, with one preliminary leg remaining, the two are on the road to a heavyweight clash in the championship, as each won his third straight PASS split Saturday at The Meadows.

The $181,388 event for freshman colt and gelding trotters, known as the Florida Pro, was contested over three divisions, with Osterc taking the other split. Yannick Gingras enjoyed a PASS double behind Demon Onthe hill and Osterc. The $252,000 final is set for Sept. 1 at The Meadows.

Hammered down to 1-5, Prospect Hill had to duel for the early lead harder than winning driver Andy Miller might have liked, reaching the point in :28.4. But the son of Muscle Hill-Louise Kemp was unchallenged thereafter, drawing off to down Flippen Creek by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2. White Tiger rallied following a poor start for show.

“Most of his races, he’s been on the front -- not that he has to be,” Miller said. “I’m sure somewhere along the line, he’ll have to follow and come off cover, which is fine for him. He’s pretty sharp right now, and for where he’s at, where pretty happy with him.”

Julie Miller trains Prospect Hill, a $130,000 yearling acquisition who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, for Stroy Inc.

Also a 1-5 favourite, Demon Onthe Hill let the air out of the balloon early, waltzing to the half in :59 before coasting home in 1:56.3. The pocket-sitting Klutzy was second, 3/4 lengths back, while Fashion Possessed completed the ticket.

“My approach was like it is for every other race,” said Gingras, who was driving Demon Onthe Hill for the first time. “I just wanted to see how the race would go. He got to the front easy and won from there. They didn’t challenge him early, but he’s a nice horse and would have won either way.”

Marcus Melander trains the son of Muscle Hill-Sabrina Hall, a $125,000 yearling purchase, for Vicky Trotting Inc.

At the top of the lane, Gingras was beginning to regret his decision to stay inside with Osterc.

“I thought it was too late. I thought I got beat actually,” he said. “There was plenty of opportunity to pull, but I thought I was following a good horse.”

But the son of Cantab Hall - Oh Oh Hereshecomes roared through the 'Lightning Lane' to edge the first-over Stonebridge Symba by a head in 1:57.4, with early leader Mass Fortune K third. Jimmy Takter conditions Osterc for Christina Takter and Goran Falk.

In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot, Glidinthruparadise, the longest shot on the board at 15-1, moved relentlessly without cover to pull off the upset in 1:55.3 for Brian Zendt, trainer Ed Zubkoff, Jr. and owner Brookside Stables. The five-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide-Chowda now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $207,123.

Aaron Merriman piloted three winners on the 13-race program.

Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the card features an $80,000 PA Stallion Series stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers. First post is 1:05 P.M.

(with files from The Meadows)