Hambo Eligibles Win Philly PASS

Three-year-old trotters Aperfectyankee, Creatine and Spider Blue Chip continued their march towards the 2013 Hambletonian with victories in Thursday's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Creatine earned his first sires stake victory in the opening $79,416 division with a 1:54.4 effort for trainer Bob Stewart and owner Diamond Creek Racing. Mike Lachance worked out a perfect pocket trip aboard the Andover Hall colt, following Its Complicated through fractions of :28, :58 and 1:25.4. The favourite then sprinted home in :28.3 to prevail by more than one length.

Aperfectyankee benefitted from the leaders breaking stride to take the second division in 1:54.1 with owner/trainer Jim Oscarsson in the sulky. Sent postward as the third choice in the wagering, the son of Yankee Glide sat third for most of the mile while favourite All Laid Out carved out fractions of :28.2, :57 and 1:25.1. However, the leader made a miscue interfering with pocket-sitter High Bridge to hand the victory to the :28.3 closing Aperfectyankee, who earned his second straight win and third this season from five starts.

Driven by Ron Pierce, favourite Spider Blue Chip won the fastest and final division with a 1:53 front-stepping score for conditioner Chuck Sylvester and owners David McDuffee and Melvin Hartman. The son of Andover Hall led the way through panels of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.1 before kicking home in :28.4 to hold off pocket-sitter Possessed Fashion by three-quarters of a length. He is now five-for-seven during his sophomore campaign.

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