Two-year-old trotting fillies Fashion Athena, Coffeecake Hanover and True Valentine starred in three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions worth approximately $110,000 each on Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Driven by Tim Tetrick, Fashion Athena left from post four in the opening division and carved out fractions of :28.1, :58.2, and 1:26.2 before holding off the pocket-sitting favourite, Frau Blucher (Brian Sears), to win by a neck in 1:55.4. Upfrontluckycarol (David Miller) finished two lengths behind in third. The second choice paid $4.40 to win.
The Broadway Hall-Athena Hanover filly, who is now two-for-four in her career with $76,372 banked, is trained by Jim Campbell for owner-breeder Fashion Farms LLC of Pennsylvania.
Favourite Coffeecake Hanover and driver Yannick Gingras got away third early on, but after following through fractions of :27.4 and :57.4 they swept to command over Classic Martine (Todd Schadel). Coffeecake Hanover hit three-quarters in 1:26.2 and cruised home to win in a career-best 1:56.2 by one and a half length, returning $3.20 to her backers. Classic Martine stayed for second and Tattoo You (Sears) finished nearly six lengths back in third.
The Cantab Hall-Cr Calendar Girl miss, a half-sister to Christiana Hanover ($326,511), is trained by Ron Burke for his Burke Racing Stable LLC and fellow Pennsylvania owners Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Keith Pippi and Michelle Yanek. The win was her third in five starts and boosted her bankroll to $92,839.
True Valentine, driven by Ron Pierce in the final split, fired to command from post six and rolled by fractions of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:26.4 before opening up five and a half lengths on her filly foes to win in 1:56.2. Money And Me (Andy Miller) rallied three-wide at the third quarter mark to come on for second over 80-1 longshot Muchness (Gingras) from the pocket. The favourite paid $3.60 to win.
Owned and bred by Brittany Farms of Kentucky and trained by Jimmy Takter, the Cantab Hall-Yankee Valentine filly notched her third (consecutive) win in four starts and surpassed the $100,000 earnings mark.