The Meadows welcomed the start of two-year-old Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action with two $80,207 Sire Stakes divisions for trotting fillies, accompanied by three $28,571 Stallion Series divisions.
In the first division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, odds-on favourite Miss Eliza and driver Mike Wilder avoided the quick early fractions of :27.4 and :57.1, opting to race from mid-pack while waiting for cover to develop. That cover came just past the half in the form of Orinoco (Yannick Gingras), which Wilder followed to the middle of the final turn while Cuckoos Nest (Dave Palone) led past three-quarters in 1:26.1. Miss Eliza and Orinoco battled the length of the stretch before the former filly's :28.4 final quarter carried her to a half-length victory in 1:55.3. Shes A Home Run (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) won a photo for show.
Norm Parker trains Miss Eliza, who is a daughter of Captain Corey out of the mare Miss Wilia. A $69,444 yearling purchase from the Lexington Select Sale, she is owned by Bart Brice and Todd Brice of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Miss Eliza is perfect in two starts, following up on a successful June 24 pari-mutuel debut at The Meadows.
Despite not seeing the pylons in her division, the bettors' choice Birr Castle still found her way to the winner’s circle following a 1:55.3 performance. Driver Dexter Dunn was unable to find a comfortable spot for Birr Castle until the quarter, which went in :28.4, but after just a few strides was forced back to the outside by the developing flow. Following an opening half in :58.4, Dunn used the cover of La Fortuna (Andrew McCarthy) before tipping three-wide at the 1:27.1 three-quarters and quickly engaging the front-stepping The Captains Wife (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Unfazed by the overland journey, Birr Castle trotted home in :28 flat for a 1-1/4-length victory over The Captains Quarters, with Cabaletta Hanover (Matt Kakaley) rounding out the top three.
Birr Castle was victorious in her career debut. The daughter of Captain Corey and Melania is trained by Marcus Melander for breeder and owner Pheasant Hill Farms of Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
The three Stallion Series divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies shared one common denominator — Dexter Dunn. In the first and fastest division, Dunn moved an anxious Crucio from fourth to first before the half on the way to a three-length, stakes record victory in 1:56.4 at first asking. The daughter of Greenshoe out of The Ice Countess is trained and owned by Melander.
The Dunn-Melander combination struck again in similar fashion with first-time starter Dont Stop Hanover in the second Stallion Series division, posting a 1:59 victory. A slow second quarter prompted Dunn to move the Greenshoe-Dont Wait Up filly to the lead and she cruised to a wrapped up, 2-1/2-length win for owners Frederick Schwartz, Onde Racing Stable and Richard Pronti.
Sitting fourth through a pedestrian three-quarters in the third split, Dunn moved Honky Tonk Baby to the outside, avoided confusion in the stretch when the race leader broke stride and the Julie Miller trainee trotted home in :28.4 to win in 1:59.2 by 3-1/2 lengths in her maiden-breaking second start. Willow Oak Racing bred and owns the daughter of Greenshoe out of Baby Longstocking.
For the day, Dunn earned driving honours with four victories while Melander’s three training wins gave him top honours in that category.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association; photo of Birr Castle winning on July 1)