The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and its complementary Stallion Series program will make their 2020 debuts on Wednesday and Thursday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, as over $600,000 in purses will be on the line. The two-year-old pacers will lead off the action, as the fillies are set to clash on Wednesday, and the colts and geldings on Thursday.
In Wednesday’s filly racing, three of the 'babies' have already achieved sub-1:55 marks in qualifying action, including the pair that have drawn innermost in Race 7. The Betting-Line--Darena Hanover miss Darby Hanover won at the Meadowlands Racetrack in 1:54, with a sizzling :26.2 last quarter. Darby Hanover will start from the rail for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller. Right next to Darby Hanover will be the Always B Miki--Western Silk filly Grace Hill, who will ship in to 'Philly' after a 1:54.4 win at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Dexter Dunn will handle the driving assignment behind Grace Hill for trainer Mark Harder.
The other sub-1:55 filly, Blue Diamond Eyes, will start from the rail for trainer Ron Burke, who has no fewer than nine fillies in the four PASS divisions (three in this section and two in the others). Blue Diamond Eyes, a daughter of Captaintreacherous--Aria Hanover, paced her final three quarters in 1:23.3 when she won at the Meadowlands in 1:54.3. Yannick Gingras is scheduled to drive Blue Diamond Eyes on Wednesday.
Burke has 'only' seven entrants in Thursday’s action for males, but he does have the fastest winner to date. That distinction goes to the Sweet Lou--Lucys Pearl colt Lous Pearlman, who defeated his stablemate Fulsome (Betting Line--Triple V Hanover) by one and three-quarter lengths in a Gaitway qualifier in 1:54. The post position draw was not been kind to the Burke-trained duo, as Lous Pearlman must start from the outside (Post 7) in Race 7 and Fulsome in Post 6.
The Race 7 PASS division may prove to be the toughest of the four splits for colts, as the field will also feature Captains Place (Captaintreacherous--Dream Out Loud), winner of three consecutive qualifiers at Scioto Downs; Billy Clyde (Always B Miki--Jan It Jackson), who has been perfect thus far, including a 1:55.4 win in a purse start at Pocono; and Crunch Hanover (Captaintreacherous--Code One Hanover), who won both his preps this far.
There will be four sire stakes and four stallion series races for the fillies on Wednesday. Thursday will see four sires stakes races and six stallion series races.
Racing will start at Harrah’s Philadelphia at 12:25 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday.
(With files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)