Track Records In PASS Finals At Chester

Published: September 24, 2008 11:36 pm EDT

Battles for early contention were the norm on Wednesday's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes card at Harrah's Chester, with Ginger And Fred and Panmunjom taking advantage of hotly-contested paces in their respective $150,000 championship divisions for a pair of track-record performances.

Ginger And Fred ($3.00) quickly assumed control of the pace in the two-year-old filly division, clearing from Pedigree Snob (David Miller) just after an opening quarter of :27.4. After securing the lead, Tim Tetrick allowed Ginger And Fred to race on her own terms through a half of :55.4 before backing into the field up the backstretch.

Facing a strong headwind, Ginger And Fred caught a :29.1 third-quarter breather, backing into Pedigree Snob and using a first-over Dagnabit Hanover (Tony Hall) as a blocker until midway through the far turn. "I had Pedigree Snob on my back, and I just wanted to keep her in as long as possible," said Tetrick.

With Sand E Fiftyfive (Greg Grismore) fanning three-wide on the turn, Tetrick tapped Ginger And Fred with the whip, and she immediately responded.

Tetrick continued, "She's very push-button; she does whatever I ask her." She kicked clear by two and a half lengths at head-stretch and continued on to win by three and a half lengths under minimal urging, stopping the timer in 1:52. Pedigree Snob was second best, with Sand E Fiftyfive a distant third.

Kevin Lare trains the daughter of Real Artist and Graceful Motion for Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman, Edwin Gold, and Jerry Silva. Ginger And Fred's mark of 1:52 equals the track record for two-year-old pacing fillies established last year by Lady Annie.

Panmunjom ($4.00) also etched his name in the Harrah's Chester record books, surviving a duel with arch-rival Arctic Warrior and drawing off by three lengths for a 1:51.2 victory in the two-year-old pacing colt and gelding division. The son of The Panderosa and Pandalay Bay sat just off a speed duel between Gallant Yankee (Todd Schadel) and Arctic Warrior (Tim Tetrick), moving to the front only once Arctic Warrior cleared the lead. "I just kind of eased in, and at the quarter I went to the front," said driver Dave Palone of his tactics.

Panmunjom would not clear Arctic Warrior until midway up the backstretch, keeping off the cones for well over a quarter mile. Palone continued, "Tim raced me in the second quarter. It was either racing him there, or being first-over into the wind." After a strenuous half of :54.3, Panmunjom continued through a :27.4 third quarter into a stiff headwind. "He went a gutsy trip for sure," added Palone.

After being pushed to the limit by Arctic Warrior through much of the race, Panmunjom asserted his superiority at the head of the stretch, responding to one last challenge and opening up by three lengths, scoring in 1:51.2.

"They're both really good horses," added Palone. "Arctic Warrior's a good horse, hats off to Sam Beegle. I have a lot of respect for him."

Erv Miller trains Panmunjom for the Peter Pan Stables, Inc. Panmunjom's 1:51.2 effort broke the previous track record – held by Bunkmeister – by one-fifth of a second.

Braggart (Broadway Hall – Delphis Daughter) was a 24-1 upset winner in the two-year-old trotting colt and gelding division, driven to victory in 1:57.1 by Tony Morgan.

Broadway Paige (Broadway Hall – Financial Paige) kicked off cover in the stretch, opening up by two and a quarter lengths with Tim Tetrick in tow for a 1:58.3 win in the two-year-old trotting filly division.

To view the results from the USTA, click here.

(Harrah’s Chester)

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