Trotting stallions in PASS action in Philly

CHESTER, PA – Pennsylvania-born colts in their second year of harness racing came to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon for their third preliminary state sire round, with two Sire Stakes divisions totaling $71,167 won by a pair of 5-1 shooters who each clocked 1:53.

The Greenshoe Stallion Supernova Hanover dropped four seconds off his mark to win for rider Todd McCarthy, trainer Per Engblom and the new Hall Of Famer’s Engblom Stable, Douglas Sipple and Mal & Janet Burroughs LLC. Supernova Hanover got to ride in the golden chair as favorites Luke The Spook and Greenspan duelled throughout a :27 third quarter, then cleared and pulled out in the homestretch to reach the chalk by half a length and close in the :55 second half.

SUPERNOVA HANNOVER REPEAT

He was again pacesetter and pocket sitter in the second Sire Stakes Division, but this time it was the pacesetter who Pub crawl Gelding Usain Hanover, who prevailed by holding off the outsider Ordained by a neck, completing the final half in :55.4. David Miller rode the Nifty Norman pupil for Enzed Racing Stable Inc.

USAIN HANOVER REPEAT

David Miller and Greenshoe claimed stakes one-two victories when they paired on the fastest of three winners in the $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, the 1:54 mile Going Green, with the gelding improving his personal best by 4 1/5 seconds. Going Green made hard work to take the lead and then held off rival behind him, Green Pastures, by a length for trainer Jenny Melander and the partnership of Melander Racing Inc., Clark Stables LLC and Noonan Harness Racing LLC.

REPEAT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Magnificent (Father Patrick) has now won three Stallion Series races in his seven-race winning streak, posting a time of 1:56 on Friday for driver Chris Lems, trainer Todd Rooney and owners Rooney Racing and Trotting For Bourbon. The colt was in second position on the grid when pacemaker Loxahatchee broke stride in the homestretch and had the largest lead of any stakes horse today at the finish, 1¼ lengths ahead of Bird And Grenade.

GORGEOUS REPEAT

The International Moni Gelding Sainthood has now won his last two starts, clearing the eight outside posts here and making his StS cut in 1:55.4. Sainthood set the pace and then edged Takemetochurch Deo by a neck. Rider George Napolitano Jr., trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and Bay Pond Racing Stable.

SAINTHOOD REPEAT

21-year-old Carter Dalgety made his first day of driving in the United States an unforgettable experience by driving the 11-1 winner Handlelikeaporsche (Lazarus N) to a 1:51.1 victory in the final race of the day. The New Zealander, whose father Cran served as a mentor to the younger Dexter Dunn, is mimicking Dexter’s brief trip to North America a few years ago to experience the racing life, and Carter could soon return permanently; if he does, he could have a “resonance” with the many Down Under trainers on the east coast, such as Hall of Fame inductee Chris Ryder, the trainer of Handlelikeporsche.

Driver Simon Allard and trainer/owner Mark Akins remained in top form, combining for four Friday wins.

Race week ends on Sunday with a 12:40 p.m. start. The highlight of the day, a $15,000 prize-winning competition, features fast pacesetters who can threaten 1:50 minutes. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

Click here to view the full race results: Results of the US Trotting Competition.

From that PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia