In response to a number of recent inquiries, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission has provided a handy summary of the qualifying times required for participation
in this year’s Keystone stakes events.
The information is listed below.
PENNSYLVANIA PARI-MUTUEL SIRE STAKES
This is the first year (foals of 2007) that the new freshman qualifying times for Sire Stakes are in place: 2:03 for pacers, 2:05 for trotters.
Because the three-year-olds (foals of 2006) were not part of this change, their times have remained the same: ironically, 2:03 for pacers and 2:05 for trotters (Next year, when the foals of 2007 are three-year-olds, the sophomore standards will be 2:00 on the pace and 2:02 on the trot).
STALLION SERIES
This new event for PA-sired two-year-olds has the same qualifying times as do the p/m Sire Stakes. (The Stallion Series, by the way, gets underway at The Meadows on Tuesday with two events for freshman filly pacers.)
PENNSYLVANIA FAIR SIRE STAKES
The fair stakes have also had a lowering in the two-year-old (foals of 2007) ranks: for trotters, 2:20 before June 30, and 2:15 thereafter; pacers 2:10.
Again, the three-year-old crop (foals of 2006) was not subject to revision, so their times remain 2:10 for pacers and 2:15 for trotters. Next year, the standards will go to 2:05 for three-year-old pacers and 2:10 for three-year-old trotters.
The full conditions for the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes can be found in the USTA’s annual publication 'The Stakes Guide.' If still unsure, a call to the track’s racing secretary, especially at the pari-mutuel tracks, might be the best answer.
(PHRC)