Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action kicked off today (May 4) with three divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings going to the gate and a number of Pepsi North America Cup-eligible horses in action.
Southwind Ozzi started off the action with an impressive 1:50.4 win for driver Tim Tetrick. The Somebeachsomewhere colt made a long first-over move and sprinted away with an impressive last quarter of :26 to clinch victory. Proof (David Miller) was a neck back in second with Prince of Tides grabbing the show spot. The win was a new lifetime mark for Southwind Ozzi who is two-for-two this year with lifetime earnings in excess of $70,000 for trainer Bill MacKenzie and New Jersey-based owners Vincent Ali Jr. and Alma Iafelice.
Tim Tetrick returned to the winner’s circle in the very next race with Workin Ona Mystery, winning in 1:50.1 -- the fastest of the three divisions. The son of Captaintreacherous was making his 2019 pari-mutuel debut for trainer Brian Brown and did not disappoint. Coming three-wide off a blistering :26.4 third quarter, Workin Ona Mystery drew off to win by 2-1/4 lengths as the 4-5 favourite. Beaten only once as a two-year-old in six starts, Workin Ona Mystery is now six-for-seven lifetime with $129,000 in earnings for Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, Penn., Stambaugh Leeman Stable, Wauseon, Oh., Alan Keith of Johnstown, Oh., and Wingfield Brothers LLC of Kenton, Oh. Wild Wild Western (Mike Wilder) was a game second after setting blistering fractions of :26.1, :55.1 and 1:22. Captain Malicious (Ray Schnittker) finished third.
The third and final PASS went to Love Me Some Lou and driver David Miller in 1:50.4. With a strong first-over move, Love Me Some Lou wore down the pace-setting favourite Captain Victorious (Matt Kakaley) who eventually faded to third behind a hard-closing Brassy Hanover (Tim Tetrick). Love Me Some Lou paid $7.20 for his backers. The son of Sweet Lou is undefeated in two seasonal starts and boosted his lifetime earnings to $190,495 for trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.
Of the PASS winners, two are North America Cup-eligible -- Workin Ona Mystery (21-1 in TROT Magazine's Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book) and Love Me Some Lou (45-1).
In addition to the Sire Stakes, there were four divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for three-year-old pacing colts. Welcomed into the winner’s circle were Under Paid and Captain Koine (Chris Page / Ron Burke), Branquinho (Tim Tetrick / Schnittker) and Skip To My Lou (Eric Goodell / Robert Cleary).
Pocono invader Rockeyed Optimist came up the inside to win the $20,000 Preferred Pace in 1:51 for trainer Jake Leamon and driver Brett Miller. The eight-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding now has earnings in excess of $700,000.
Racing resumes Monday, May 6 with a 1:05 p.m. post time.
(with files from The Meadows)