The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes made its 2020 debut on Wednesday afternoon (July 1) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, as four $53,534 sire stakes and four $20,000 stallion series divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies in the spotlight.
JK Alwaysbalady, the offspring of two Horses of the Year in Always B Miki and JK Shesalady, posted an easy 4-1/2 length victory in an impressive 1:52.1 in her division. Yannick Gingras sent JK Alwaysbalady to the lead, yielded to Wicked Ways to sit in the pocket behind her, and then powered away late for trainer Nancy Takter and the 3 Brothers Stable.
Always B Miki picked up another sire credit in the Sire Stakes when Grace Hill, out of the mare Western Silk, made a quarter-move to control the throttle, then snapped home in :55.2 to complete a 1:53 victory while staying 1-1/4 lengths clear of Marsala Hanover. Dexter Dunn drove the Canadian shipper for trainer Nifty Norman and owner Tom Hill.
Gingras captured another Sire Stakes victory when the Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover filly Blue Diamond Eyes posted a 1:53.3 victory after brushing to the lead just before the half. Stablemate Continualou closed strongly to miss catching the winner by only a half length, while Oceans Apart, another 1-1/2 lengths back, completed the trifecta sweep for trainer Ron Burke. Blue Diamond Eyes, the only favourite to win in the Sire Stakes ranks, is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon.
In the other Sire Stakes division, Let Er Buck defeated Lyonssoftassilk by a neck at the end of a 1:55 mile. Mark MacDonald guided the Betting Line-Wild West Show filly for owner-trainer Ray Schnittker.
Dunn added two Stallion Series victories to his Sire Stakes win, with Somebeachsomewhere fillies Beach Crazy (1:55.3) and Podium Girl (1:56.2). Showmethetanlines (1:55.3) and High Minded (1:58.2) took the other Stallion divisions.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)