Mets Hall set a new track record for two-year-old trotting colts in his second victory while the Ontario-owned Lawmaker also doubled up to highlight Friday afternoon's Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action at Harrah's Philadelphia.
The Miller husband and wife team of driver Andy and trainer Julie scored back-to-back wins in the final PASS divisions of the day, each worth approximately $42,000, with Toast Of Lindy and record-setter Mets Hall.
Undefeated Mets Hall ($7.40) was the fastest of the four PASS winners, scoring in a track record time of 1:55.1. After working to command from the outside post seven through a :28.2 opening quarter, he carved out middle splits of :57 and 1:25.2 before cruising home in :29.4 a three-length winner with his closest contenders breaking stride around the final turn. Canale Hanover finished second while favourite Whats The Word recovered from his break in stride to end up third.
Bred by Winbak Farm, the Cantab Hall-Mets Inn colt was a six-figure Harrisburg Sale yearling. He is now two-for-two to start his career with Friday's win shaving two seconds off his mark taken in his career debut in the Pennsylvania All Stars on July 2 at Pocono for New Jersey owners Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable Inc.
Toast Of Lindy ($39.80) pulled off the biggest upset of the Sires Stakes leg at 18-1 after favourite Muscle M Up broke stride early on. Parked through a :28.4 quarter, Toast Of Lindy took over command in front of the grandstand and was rated through a half in :58 before Storming Mist challenged to three-quarters in 1:26.3. They raced head-to-head around the final turn and into the stretch, but Toast Of Lindy won that duel by a neck in 1:56.1. Captain Morgan finished third.
The victory was a maiden-breaking one for three-time starter Toast Of Lindy, who was an $80,000 Lexington Selected Sale yearling. The Cantab Hall-Bellini Lindy colt is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc., breeder Lindy Racing Stable and GTY Stable.
Owned by Thestable Lawmaker Group of Guelph, Ont. and driven by Anthony MacDonald, Lawmaker ($3.40) held off Crystal Fashion by a nose to win his second straight PASS division. After Crystal Fashion left from the outside post, Lawmaker worked his way to the top by the :28.4 quarter mark. Following a :31.4 second panel breather, he trotted by three-quarters in 1:29.1 and held off inside closer Crystal Fashion down the stretch for the narrow victory in 1:57.2. Bautista finished two and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Andrew Harris trains the Muscle Massive-Pretty Amigo colt, who was a $20,000 Lexington Select Yearling Sale purchase and has finished no worse than second in three starts while banking nearly $50,000. Lawmaker was bred by Pedigree Farm of Campbellville, Ont.
The other division was won by the maiden-breaking Final Dream ($6) for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt and his co-owners Joe Sbrocco of Brecksville, Ohio, and Lars Berg of Hirtshals, Denmark.
Final Dream established the lead off the gate from post three before 1-2 favourite Maxus took over past the :28.1 quarter. He led the field by the half in :57.3 and was then confronted by Maxs Beast approaching three-quarters in 1:26.4. Maxus rebuffed that rival before the stretch drive, but Final Dream closed inside to steal the glory in the final strides, stopping the clock in 1:55.4.
Bred by Ohio's Steiner Stock Farm, Final Dream is by Cantab Hall out of Ontario Sires Stakes champion Oh Sweet Baby. He was a $45,000 yearling purchased from the Lexington sale.
Between Sires Stakes action, Yannick Gingras drove five winners on the 14-race card, including four for the Ron Burke stable.