Harrah's Philadelphia hosted $320,000 in eight $40,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championships for two- and three-year-olds on its Monday, Sept. 3 program.
This is the tenth anniversary year of the Stallion Series, designed to give Pennsylvania-sired horses who were still developing or perhaps just below the top-line horses a chance to earn good money. The program began with two-year-olds in 2009; since the program did not exist when the three-year-olds of 2009 first had to pay in, their Stallion Series action began a year later.
STALLION SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS -- TWO YEAR-OLDS
TROTTING FILLIES – The Explosive Matter–Nans Conway filly Navarone Hanover was reserved off a hot pace by driver Tim Tetrick, rallied three wide on the far turn and then trotted off to a two-length victory in 1:57, a lifetime best. This filly has been a model of consistency for trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. and owner Christine Baggitt with four wins and two seconds in six starts. Southwind Storm, who won in all four of her prelims and would have been only the third Stallion Series participant to complete a sweep of the prelims and Championship, got caught first over in the fast pace and couldn’t contend in the last quarter.
TROTTING COLTS – 62-year-old Ray Paver recorded his first local victory since August 18, 2010 as he ran the recent record of the Muscle Massive–Sister Kate colt Kates Massive to five for six by winning in 1:55.4, a personal best and only a tick off the stake mark of Two Am. Kates Massive went up to challenge the fractious speedball Final Claim in the backstretch and when he made a break on the far turn, the way home was easy for Kates Massive as he trotted three-and-three-quarter lengths clear for Paver, who also trains, and owner Harry Horowitz.
PACING FILLIES – The Somebeachsomewhere–Tulu Hanover filly Trillions Hanover was the fastest winner in the last preliminary round at 1:52.4, and today she lowered that personal best by a tick as a two-length winner. Brett Miller moved the victress, now with four wins from six starts in her brief career, to the lead in front of the stands and she sprinted home while well in command. Tom Fanning conditions Trillions Hanover for Fanning Racing LLC, VIP Internet Stable LLC, and J L Benson Stables Inc.
PACING COLTS – Captain Panko completed a Somebeachsomewhere sweep of the freshman pacing sections when he gamely held off favourite Sweet Troy by a neck in 1:53.4. Starting from post eight, Captain Panko and Corey Callahan were wide early and on top at the quarter but then had the chalk come at him at the five-eighths and gain a short advantage moving into the final turn. Captain Panko refused to give way and came back to win for trainer John Butenschoen and the ownership of Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc. and William Wiswell.
STALLION SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS -- THREE-YEAR-OLDS
TROTTING FILLIES – Follow Streak stepped up to be the first series' pointsleader to win the championship as she left her field four lengths behind in 1:55.1. Perfect in three Stallion Series start to tie for the points lead entering the final, Follow Streak roared uncovered through the backstretch to the lead before three-quarters for driver Andy Miller and then won easily for trainer Julie Miller and the ownership of the Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Lawrence Dumain.
TROTTING COLTS – Two of the three Team Orange Crush coupled entrants who were sent off at 1-9 waged a strong battle through the stretch. In the end, the Cantab Hall-gelding Maxs Beast made the most of his pocket trip for Yannick Gingras, catching Im Your Captain, piloted by Andy Miller and parked a long way for the lead, by a head in 1:53.3, a lifetime best. Maxs Beast now has five wins and a pair of seconds in his last seven trips to the gate for trainer Julie Miller, completing an Orange Crush sweep of the Stallion Series three-year-old trot events, and the ownership of the Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Harvey Eisman.
PACING FILLIES – Both driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke got their second Stallion Series championship of the afternoon as Real Fine, forced to take the pocket early by a hard-leaving Zuluwarriorhanover, outgunned that filly at the inside and won by three-quarter lengths in a personal best of 1:52.1. Burke Racing Stable Inc., Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and M1 Stables own the successful daughter of Bettors Delight, now a winner in half of her fourteen 2018 starts, including three Stallion Series prelims.
PACING COLTS – Go West Go Fast hustled right to the top for driver Matt Kakaley, set the pace while withstanding a stiff first-over challenge from Bobby K Hill and then went on to beat the drifting-out favourite Terror Atthe Beach by a nose in 1:51.3. The son of Western Ideal now shows four wins in his last eight starts for trainer Ron Burke and the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC; Frank Baldachino; Silva, Purnel & Libby; and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
The Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes horses were in action this afternoon at Bloomsburg; their Championship card will be on Saturday, Oct. 6 at The Meadows.
(With files from the PHHA)