Loua Dipa, last year’s Dan Patch Award winner and the fastest two-year-old filly ever at 1:48, made her sophomore debut in one of two divisions of the first leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes as the 2026 Pennsylvania-sired season opened at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon, May 1.
As one would guess, Loua Dipa was a heavy favourite. But there were two points of discussion: 1) the only time she had finished off the board in her career, it was in her only other Philly start, when she had a rough trip and was fifth in the Sire Stakes championship, and 2) Miss Jum Jabber had won two Weiss Series legs at Pocono and seemed to have the field at her mercy in last Tuesday’s final, but trainer Brett Pelling opted to come try the Sire Stakes rather than what looked like a more-solid, cash-in-hand opportunity.
The result? Over a track not friendly to closers, Miss Jum Jabber came from last at the half to catch pacesetting Loua Dipa by a head in 1:51.3.
This $72,571 division opened with the two winningest drivers in North American harness racing history, Dave Palone and Tony Morgan, slugging it out through a :27.1 first panel, with Morgan protecting the inside in rein to Caviart Daisy and Palone determined to get to the front while three-wide with Spoon Fed. Loua Dipa and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. were in-between these two much of the initial bend, then was backed off to let the fireworks settle, going frontwards off the first turn to the lead by the three-eighths and hitting the half in a pedestrian :56.4. Miss Jum Jabber was nine lengths behind at the half.
Miss Jum Jabber, a daughter of Bettors Wish and Grand Circuit stakes winner Treacherous Reign, was aided greatly when Fitness First (Tim Tetrick) made a huge backstretch blitz raw, tailing second-over to a 1:24.3 three-quarters, but still fifth, three lengths back. Miss Jum Jabber’s driver, Andrew McCarthy, tipped her wide for the stretch duel; the filly, still appearing a trifle green in only her fifth start and going as she had done with her head a bit to the right, had no trouble generating her awesome late burst, and that pair finally got the top in the shadow of the wire, the fleet filly pacing her own back fractions in :53 and :26.2. Loua Dipa held her ground very gamely in her first start in 167 days, with Fitness First third after the raw journey, but it was Miss Jum Jabber’s “coming out” party for Pelling Racing LLC of Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
The other Sire Stakes winner was also won by a second choice, Darlins Angel, who took command in :27.3 then yielded for the garden seat behind favoured Topville Lucky (Dexter Dunn) during middle splits of :57 and 1:24.4. The chalk had little lick in the home straight and Darlins Angel was able to come up the inside for driver Lauren Tritton and defeat uncovered Bettor Be A Star (Patrick Ryder) by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53. Last year’s PASS championship winner Say Goodnight was third. Juan Cano conditions the winner of six-of-nine lifetime, a homebred Captaintreacherous filly out of triple millionaire Darlins Delight for Hot Lead Farm of Allentown, New Jersey.
In the five $27,397 Stallion Series divisions, the favourites were perfect, with three wins for both Jason Bartlett and sire Papi Rob Hanover. Two of the wins came via the Sunshine Meadows to Pocono to Philly route for Bartlett, trainer Hunter Oakes and part-owner Flying A Racing Stable, including the fastest Stallion Series cut, 1:51.4 (ironically the only section that did not produce a lifetime best), turned in by the Papi Rob Hanover miss Imagine Heaven, with Flying A Racing Stable partners on this winner with Lucky Strike and Charles Oakes. Flying A is the co-owner with Chuck Pompey of the Tall Dark Stranger filly Tall Dark Tequila, a 1:53.2 winner for Team Oakes/Bartlett.
Bartlett won his third Stallion Series split with the Always B Miki filly Carolina, who also was clocked in a lifetime best 1:53.2. Per Engblom oversees the handling of the winner for his Engblom Farm LLC, R A W Equine Inc., Daniel Sarafian and Evans Nation.
The other two successful daughters of Papi Rob Hanover in Stallion Series action were: Real Fast, now six-for-10 in her brief career after a 1:52 victory for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr., trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc., and Slaughter Racing Stable; and Make It Right, lowering her mark to 1:52.1 for owners Gary McCandless, Jo Ann Looney-King and Larry Rathbone, and the noted “Team Pacing Distaff” of driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King Jr.
Racing live on Kentucky Derby Saturday caused Philly to go dark on Thursday, so the “Trottin' Thursday” diagonal gang had the features a day late. The top purse event, a $18,493 trot for up-and-comers, was won by the International Moni mare Moni Buys Happynes, who may not be able to spell but who has a shiny new speed badge of 1:54.1 after winning for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer/owner Richard Hans of Googoo Gaagaa fame.
In the $17,808 fast-class trot, the Chapter Seven gelding Dame Good Time won in 1:51.4 for the second time in as many 2026 starts for driver Andy Miller, trainer Nick Devita and owner John Cummins while stamping himself as a serious contender for the six-figure Maxie Lee Trot, part of Super Sunday at Philly on Sunday, May 24.
All of the horsepeople with multiple victories on the card have already been mentioned: for the drivers, Jason Bartlett with three and Andy Miller and Todd McCarthy with two; and for the trainers, doublers Per Engblom and Hunter Oakes.
As mentioned, there will be a special Kentucky Derby Day live card on Saturday at 12:40 p.m. then a Sunday program at 12:40 p.m. winds up the week.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)