The world’s fastest two-year-old and champion filly of 2018, Warrawee Ubeaut was victorious in her 2019 bow capturing a $83,240 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. She had one anxious moment, but after she literally got around the problem, she went on to an in-hand score in 1:51.2, equaling the North American season’s record in this preliminary PASS leg.

Driver Yannick Gingras, a four-time winner on the day, got the daughter of Sweet Lou away fourth from post seven in a field of eight, with Stonebridge Soul, Rockn Philly, and Trillions Hanover all fleeing the barrier well from inside her. Nearing the first quarter, Trillions Hanover suddenly made a break, but Gingras did well and got the champion filly around that one (she did get an “i”), and sat third as Stonebridge Soul got the field to the quarter in :27.2.

Gingras put Warrawee Ubeaut in a higher gear soon after that point, making the lead before the second turn, and middle splits of :55.4 and 1:24 were rung up. In the stretch, Stonebridge Soul came to challenge, but her efforts proved gallant but futile, as Warrawee Ubeaut rolled on in complete control, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. It was just the kind of start to a potentially-historic year that the connections would want for the winner of $688,615, who is trained by Ron Burke for the familiar teaming of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura, and J&T Silva, Purnel & Libby. Warrawee Ubeaut was bred by Warrawee Farm of Rockwood, Ont.

The Captaintreacherous filly Philly Hanover had the ability to overcome the grueling first-over journey, wearing down 2018 Sire Stakes champ Sylph Hanover by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:51.3, a new best clocking for her.

Keeping the pocket closed early is what put Philly Hanover in raw territory, as Sylph Hanover made Sweet Heaven, who found no early holes, press on past a :27.1 opener to get the lead under the wire the first time, with Sylph Hanover regaining before the :55.2 half. Dunn had no choice but to give his favoured filly a shot and went first-up, approaching the leader by the 1:23 three-quarters and going by on the far turn en route to victory.

Philly Hanover remains undefeated in three seasonal starts for trainer Ron Coyne Jr.; Ron Coyne Stables Inc. shares ownership of the winner with Alberta's Blair Corbeil.

In one of the five $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, the Real Artist filly Abigail Dawn overcome being parked to the three-eighths for command in defeating pocket-sitting Hydration by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:51.2, which not only was a new mark but also an equaling of the North American season’s record for the group that Warrawee Ubeaut also tied. Dexter Dunn guided the speedy miss to her third win of an undefeated 2019 for trainer Chris Ryder and the Shore Thing Stables LLC.

Alkippe worked her to make the lead, but then she was in control of her Stallion section, although a last-to-first uncovered bid by Sin City Lori kept the margin at three-quarters of a length. The time of 1:52.2 was a new record for the Sweet Lou miss, sharp in her yearly bow for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Enviro Stables LTD.

Annie Hill rode good second-over cover for driver Tim Tetrick, then proved strong in the lane to record a 1:52.4 victory in her Stallion Series cut. Carousel, who came from the clouds, was 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner, a daughter of Captaintreacherous who won for the fifth time for trainer Chris Oakes and owner Tom Hill (who could watch his filly win via simulcast at 8:15 p.m. in England.)

JK Mardi Says, in her first start of the season, followed the cover of Able Hanover, then wore down that rival late by a length to take a mark of 1:53 in her PAStS division. Andrew McCarthy drove the Somebeachsomewhere filly for trainer Nancy Johansson and the ownership of the 3 Brothers Stable.

The Captaintreacherous filly Sea Princess was used three separate times in her stakes event, yet still was able to draw clear for drive Mike Cole in 1:54.1, which equals her mark. Sea Princess, now victorious in half her ten seasonal races, is trained by Joseph Columbo for George and Tina Dennis Racing and Brent Fannin.

There will be a special live Saturday card tomorrow, Kentucky Derby Day, at 12:40 p.m. The program will mark the opening action in the 2019 Great Northeast Open Series, with million-dollar winning Crystal Fashion making his seasonal debut in the $30,000 Open trot, and three-year-old champion Kissin In The Sand opening her four-year-old season in the $30,000 Mares Open pace. There will also be a carryover of $17,969.45 in the Jackpot Hi-5 pool offered in race five.

(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)