Searching for some exciting Labour Day harness racing action? Look no further than the Meadows, which on Monday (Sept. 7) will host an eight-pack of $40,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series finals.
On the wagering front, the 15-race card will feature a trio of rich opportunities: a $9,734.02 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5; a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Early Pick 4 (Race 3); a $710.01 carryover in the early Pick 5 (Race 2). First post is at 12:45 p.m.
Quick overviews of several of the most intriguing finals appear below.
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace (Race 4)
Odds On Whitney, pictured setting a stallion series record on August 26 at the Meadows.
Odds On Whitney got a latish start to her juvenile campaign, finishing second in a July 28 overnight race at Harrah’s Philadelphia. But she’s a full sister to Papi Rob Hanover, who set a world record 1:47.1 in an elimination of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids before injury forced his retirement. So if owner Odds On Racing and trainer Tony Alagna still entertained large expectations for Odds On Whitney, they weren’t disappointed.
Odds On Whitney won her next two starts — both stallion series splits — in impressive fashion, setting a stakes record of 1:51.3 at the Meadows despite being parked out for half of the mile. On Monday she’ll start from Post 4 with Tim Tetrick.
Her chief competition figures to be Darby Hanover (Andy Miller, Post 6), who captured all three stallion series legs she contested, and Podium Girl (Dexter Dunn, Post 1), who has a pair of stallion series victories.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot (Race 7)
Dune Hill has been unstoppable in the series, sweeping the four preliminary legs for trainer Ron Burke and owner Joseph DiScala Jr. She’s won seven of nine starts this year and boasts career earnings of $131,886. The daughter of Muscle Hill-Quite Possible is stuck with Post 7, but she won an August 15 stallion series division from that post despite a three-wide struggle for the early lead. Matt Kakaley will drive.
A pair of locally based fillies will try to upset Dune Hill. Perth Angel De Vie (Bryce Brocklehurst, post 5) notched a series victory and finished in the money in all four preliminary legs. Aunt Bee (Wilbur Yoder, Post 1) also collected a series win but lost to Dune Hill in the other three legs.
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot (Race 13)
Overserved (Tetrick, post 3) and Shadrack Hanover (Kakaley, post 7) have grown into their talent and are razor sharp; each enters the championship on a three-race winning streak.
Overserved (Explosive Matter-Afterimage), who races for trainer George Ducharme and owners William Donovan, Stephen Michaels, Joe Sbrocco and Jim Winske, won those three races by a combined seven and three-quarter lengths. Shadrack Hanover (Muscle Hill-Shared Past) was unraced at two, but has lost only once for Burke and owner Elite Trotting.
This is an ultra-competitive heat and a fine way to bring down the curtain on the stallion series.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)