Fashion Athena captured her second straight Pennsylvania Sire Stake victory Friday at The Meadows when she made a quarter-pole move stand up in a stake-fastest 1:56.
The $306,136 event for two-year-old filly trotters, known as the Delmonica Hanover, was contested over four divisions, with Frau Blucher, Ruffleshaveridges and Coffeecake Hanover taking the other splits. Matt Kakaley enjoyed a Delmonica Hanover double behind Frau Blucher and Coffeecake Hanover and concluded the 15-race card with four wins overall.
Fashion Athena got away second, but when Dick Stillings sent the daughter of Broadway Hall-Athena Hanover for the lead, the race was effectively over. She drew off to win by six and a half lengths over early leader Money And Me, with Chiptomylou third. Jim Campbell trains Fashion Athena, who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, for owner-breeder Fashion Farms.
Frau Blucher, named for the Cloris Leachman character in Young Frankenstein whose very name could agitate horses, did just that to Royal Assets when she passed the 1-1 favorite in the lane and triumphed in 1:58. Royal Assets saved place, one and a half lengths back, while Classic Martine completed the ticket. Chris Oakes conditions the daughter of Broadway Hall-My Angel, who has finished in the money in all six lifetime outings, for Hauser Brothers Racing and Matt Tudisco.
Dismissed at 9-1, Ruffleshaveridges moved first over and scored the upset in 1:58, one and a quarter lengths better than Hauln Fanny. Antsy Dancey earned show. Trainer-driver Rick Beinhauer owns the daughter of Tom Ridge-TS Fast Forward, who notched her second PASS win, with Regina Beinhauer.
Hammered down to 1-5, Coffeecake Hanover did not disappoint her backers, even while struggling home in a :32 final panel. But her lead was so sizable that she prevailed in 1:59.2, three-quarters of a length ahead of Sina. Early leader Ladyfinger was third. Ron Burke trains the daughter of Cantab Hall-CR Calendar Girl for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Keith Pippi and Michelle Yanek.
The point leaders in the division will return to The Meadows on Sept. 7, when the track hosts all four $200,000 PASS championships for two-year-olds.
(The Meadows)