The two horses who last year swept their four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes preliminaries and then were triumphant in their championships, pacing colt Frantic Hanover and trotting filly Ginger Tree Lex, both added a second qualifying win in preparation for their coming sophomore campaigns at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 21.

Frantic Hanover, who went the fastest mile ever by a two-year-old on a five-eighths-mile track, 1:49.1, in winning the PASS championship, won his Tuesday qualifier in 1:54.1 on the engine, snapping off back numbers of :56.1 and :28 – and needing them to withstand a :27 last quarter from Caviart Anders by a neck. Tim Tetrick was in the sulky behind the Stay Hungry-Francessa colt Frantic Hanover, trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Brad Grant, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi.

A fellow world-record holder and Burke Brigade member Al Papi, second to Frantic Hanover in the Pennsylvania finale and a winner in his first 2026 qualifier last week, cut the pace but was beaten by three-quarters of a length in another event, which was won in the fastest time of the day, 1:53.1, by pocket-sitting Gentlemans Club. The Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers colt, winner of the Governor’s Cup in November, was ready for his first trip behind the gate this season, motoring home up the inside in :27 for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Aaron Lambert and owner Anthony Licastro.

The Bar Hopping-Perfect Chance filly Ginger Tree Lex won her second straight qualifier of the season in 1:57.2, coming her own back half in :55.4 via the uncovered route. Driven by Andrew McCarthy for trainer Steve Cook and the ownership of Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures, Knollview Stable 2 and Bob Reber Jr., Ginger Tree Lex is reportedly looking at the new $300,000 USD Oak Grove Trotting Oaks, to be held Saturday, May 16 at the Kentucky oval.

Two trotters went in 1:56.4 for the day’s speed honours on that gait: the three-year-old Greenshoe-Highland Top Hill gelding Highland Destiny, a pocket rocket while closing in :28.2 for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Nancy Takter, and the four-year-old Walner-Speak To Me mare Walspea, making every pole a winning one and showing a :27.2 kick on the end for driver/trainer Trond Smedshammer.

The three-year-old pacing fillies were topped speed-wise by the Perfect Sting-Enduring Hop miss Interstellar, who was very good on the engine to win in 1:55.1 for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Tony Alagna.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Frantic Hanover winning the 2025 PASS championship)