Trailing by 6-1/2 lengths at the half, Sephora De Vie rallied with a steady drive that carried her to victory in a stakes-record 1:56.3 in a division of Tuesday’s $80,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event at The Meadows
The stake for three-year-old filly trotters was contested over four divisions, with Linnea P, La Cantera and Im A Centerfold also capturing $20,000 splits. Trainer Greg Wright enjoyed a stake training double with Sephora De Vie and La Cantera.
Sephora De Vie, a $45,000 yearling acquisition with one victory in her previous 11 starts, trotted patiently until Greg Wright, Jr. moved her off the pylons at the half. She advanced steadily to down Ladys Night, the 2-5 favourite, by 1-3/4 lengths, with Mynah Hanover third. Her time erased the 1:57.2 stakes record Apple Plush established in 2010.
“She was hurt last year warming up for her first baby race,” said Wright, who conditions the Cantab Hall-Ava filly for Jon Erdner and Ben Kenney. “I was bringing her to the paddock after warming up and she knuckled behind. So she wasn’t ready to race until late in the fall. She’s flighty, but she’s coming into her own.”
Linnea P also came from well back, making up a six-length deficit for Mike Wilder and scoring in 1:57.4, a lifetime mark. Red Rum Lass was a length back in second while My Good Side saved show.
“She got a little hot, and I thought I lost her by the end of last year,” said trainer Randy Bendis. “Her last few were real bad, and I was hoping I didn’t ruin her. But she looks like she’ll be nice. We’ve been careful not to put her in a bad spot. She has a future at four and five.”
Jack B. Piatt II and R. Lewis Hauber bred and own Linnea P, a daughter of Broadway Hall-Sonic Hush.
Dave Palone made a confident quarter-pole move to the front with La Cantera, and the daughter of Cantab Hall-Shadowofyoursmile made it stand up, prevailing by a head in a career-best 1:57.1 over Lady Ridge. Quantum Glidingby completed the ticket.
“When I scored her down today, she was the best she ever was,” Palone said. “So I thought I had the best filly if I could keep her out of trouble.”
Owner Jon Erdner collected his second stake victory on the day with La Cantera.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, 16-1 Tremor Hanover moved powerfully first over and blew away the field late, triumphing in a career-fastest 1:51.2 for Brian Zendt. Jans Luck rallied for second, 7-1/4 lengths in arrears, with Idol a closing third.
Aaron Johnston trains the five-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native-Terrie Letsgo for Charles Moses and Shawn Johnston.
Wednesday’s card at The Meadows features the $202,935 Stenographer, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake for sophomore filly trotters.
(The Meadows)