The Pennsylvania-sired three-year-old trotting colts, looking to solidify spots in their upcoming Pennsylvania championships and also establish sharp form for lucrative upcoming stakes such as the Hambletonian, will race the third preliminary of the state Sire Stakes and Stallion Series competitions on the Wednesday (June 23) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
There will be two divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS), in Race 4 and Race 8; five Stallion Series sections will be interspersed throughout the card.
Top horseman Åke Svanstedt has a two-horse coupled entry in each of the Sire Stakes divisions, and both have been made early 8-5 favourites. In the fourth race, his horses drew posts 1 and 2 with the inside going to Delayed Hanover, a Southwind Frank colt who won his only start of the year in a Sire Stakes event at Pocono and whom Åke will drive. Just to his right will be another Southwind Frank colt, Capstone, who was second in both Sire Stakes legs so far, and who will be driven by Andrew McCarthy.
The only other Sire Stakes winner in this division is Jujubee, who starts from post 5 for driver Tony Hall and trainer Greg Wright Jr. After finishing second in his first PASS leg, the son of Creatine was another who was victorious in this series when racing at Pocono.
The eighth race Svanstedt entry is topped by Captain Corey, a son of Googoo Gaagaa who was this division’s 2020 Sire Stakes Champion. He has won his only start of the year in a Sire Stakes, and Svanstedt will be driving him from post 4. His stablemate, Fly Light, will have to overcome the outside post seven in his 2021 bow; Dexter Dunn will be in his sulky.
Major opposition could come from the Southwind Frank gelding Whiskey Blu, the winningest trotter in North America so far this year with 10, one of which was a Sire Stake. He’ll be trying to make it two from post 3for driver Dan Charlino and trainer Ron Burke.
Of the Stallion Series competitors, the only two-time winner entered Wednesday is Sunny Crockett, a Father Patrick colt who has winning ways – he’s 9-for-15 lifetime. He’ll start from post 3 for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller.
The Wednesday 12:25 p.m. (EDT) card at Philly will also feature the pari-mutuel debuts of the two-year-olds at the southeast Pennsylvania oval. Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)