It was feast or famine for the favourites on Wednesday, May 27 at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack in six splits of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, with three public choices turning in decisive victories, and breaks marring the chances of the other three
.
Top Chef and Citation Lindy turned in the fastest performances of the evening, both victorious in 1:54.4 over fast going. Top Chef ($3.00), under Brett Miller for trainer Kevin Lare, brushed to the front on the first turn before drawing and holding clear throughout. Top Chef won by 4-1/4 lengths from Wuthering Hanover (Dave Palone) and Garcon (Tim Tetrick). Howard Taylor, Jerry Silva, Robert Feldman, and Curtis Larrimore own the three-year-old Broadway Hall colt.
Citation Lindy ($4.40) won in pillar-to-post fashion under trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, opening up on the backstretch but labouring late, still prevailing by 1-3/4 lengths over And Heez Perfect (Dave Palone) and Broadway Bistro (Tim Tetrick) in 1:54.4. The three-year-old Cantab Hall colt is owned by the Citation Lindy Stable.
Keystone Activator ($2.60, George Brennan) was the other victorious favourite, pressing Photoforwin (Rick Beinhauer) throughout the middle half and opening up to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Triumphant Caviar (Daniel Dube) in 1:55.2.
Odds-on favourites Sir Caviar, Road Rash, and Jaavos Boy all made breaks in their respective divisions, setting up for mild upsets by Shermans Mountain (1:55.3, $6.60, Dave Palone) and Tagyoureithanover (1:57.2, $14.60, Michel Lachance), while Crystal Sizzler (1:56.4, $27.00, Corey Callahan) edged out Caviar Crown for the biggest Sire Stakes upset of the evening.
Tim Tetrick won four races on the evening's card, including the overnight feature Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares with Southwind Tempo in 1:51.2. Dave Palone, George Brennan, and Corey Callahan all recorded driving doubles.
(Harrah's Chester)