Both gaits of freshmen fillies contested three $30,000 divisions of the Liberty Bell stakes series on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the favourites winning all of the trots and none of the paces.
George Brennan guided two of the trotting winners. First was the Donato Hanover-Glide About miss American Kosmos, who won her third race in four starts while reducing her mark to 1:55.3. The winner, sent off at 6-5, sat far off the runaway pacesetter Scirocco Donnahill and then gradually reeled that one in for a three-and-three-quarter length victory for trainer Julie Miller and the ownership of Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld, and David Goodrow.
The other two triumphant trotters proved worthy of 1-5 favouritism including Brennan’s second winner Magical Beliefs, who lowered her mark to 1:56.4. The daughter of Cantab Hall–Frisky Magic trotted past the leading Sigilwig past the half, opened a big lead, then maintained a two-and-a-half length margin on the shuffled closer Mimispearloflindy. She grabbed her fourth win in eight starts career and pushed her career earnings to $166,686. Linda Toscano conditioned the consistent miss for Highland Green Farms, South Mountain Stables, and R-And-I Farms LLC.
First visitor to the Harrah’s winner's circle on Thursday was the six-time winner Sonnet Grace, whom owner/trainer/driver Rod Allen sent to the front to win by four-and-a-half lengths in 1:55.1 personal best. The daughter of Muscle Massive-I Believe, a granddaughter of CR Kay Suzie, now has earnings totaling $125,397.
Form took a holiday on the pacing side with the biggest upset coming from A Beach Cowgirl, whom Corey Callahan piloted to a 1:53.4 lifetime best while paying $83.20. The Somebeachsomewhere–Limestone Cowgirl miss took advantage of a pocket journey, withstanding closing Renaissance Lady K by three-quarter lengths for trainer Brett Bittle, co-owner with Dan Bittle and the Charles Kellers, III and IV.
Somebeachsomewhere sired a second winner in Stonebridge Soul, a $13.40 winner after a two-length wire-to-wire win while taking a new mark of 1:52.2. Philly Hanover and Rockin Philly wound up the first two choices but Stonebridge Soul proved the best for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Chris Ryder, and the ownership of Henderson Farms and Robert Mondillo.
Down Under-wonder Dexter Dunn sat behind the third pacing winner, the Captaintreacherous–Musicale Hanover filly May Bride Hanover, who won in 1:53.1. Dunn let the winner roll on the engine in quick numbers, then kept her together in the lane to win by a neck over What A Fox. "Nifty" Norman trains the winner, who won her fourth race in seven starts, for the Pinske Stables and David Hoese.
Liberty Bell series action for two-year-olds continues Friday, Sept. 21 in Philadelphia with the colts turning out in the same proportions as their filly counterparts. Three divisions of each gait will go postward.
(With files from the PHHA)