The Liberty Bell stakes series commenced its annual fall run at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 23), with over $160,000 in purses offered to two-year-old fillies on both gaits.
Favourites won all three divisions for pacers — though the heaviest choice of all was nearly upset. Grace Hill, who finished second in her Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final behind dual champion Blue Diamond Eyes, looked to be sailing along for driver Todd McCarthy after setting fractions of :28.2, :56.1 and 1:24.2.
However, pocket sitter Natchez Belle kept chopping into the margin – four lengths at the half, two at the three-quarters, 1-1/4 lengths at the stretch call and narrowing with every step towards the line. But Grace Hill, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and Western Silk, dug down and won by a head in 1:53.1, her fourth win and six starts for trainer Nifty Norman and owner Tom Hill.
The Betting Line-Wild West Show filly Let Er Buck made two moves to control the throttle in her division through splits of :28, :57.3 and 1:25.3, then turned back first-over Southwind Mina by 1-3/4 lengths in a career best 1:53.4 for driver Mark MacDonald and owner-trainer Ray Schnittker.
The fastest winner was the Captaintreacherous-Miss Kitty Hanover filly Mackie Hanover, who sped right to the top from the outside post six and hung up numbers of :28, :57.1 and 1:24.3 en route to a three-length score in a lifetime best 1:52.4. George Brennan drove for trainer Tom Fanning and owners Howard Taylor and Falcon Racing LLC.
On the trotting side, You Ato Dream worked her way to the lead for trainer-driver Jeff Gregory near the :28 quarter, put up middle splits of :57 and 1:25, then was kept to business to withstand rocket May Karp and break maiden in 1:54.2. Jeff Gregory Inc. owns the talented miss with William Richardson, George Romanoff and Martin Garey.
Donato Hanover earned a siring double when Wixx Hanover reduced her mark to 1:55.3 in the other section. With a filly who had shown both speed and shaky manners, Brennan was in no hurry to rush the rookie, letting her follow the early cover of Myreanna before claiming the lead at the midway stage. From there, Wixx Hanover had total command, reaching three-quarters in 1:26 and going off to a three-length victory. Trainer Roland Mallar shares ownership with Patrick Leavitt and William Hartt.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)