$154,571 Sire Stakes legs contested and won at Philly

CHESTER PA – In addition to the Invitational races on Super Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, there were Sire Stakes and Stallion Series races as the “glamour division” of the Pennsylvania-sired raced its third of four preliminary harness racing legs.

The $154,571 Sire Stakes were contested in three divisions, and first to the wire in the first division was Rush In (Heston Blue Chip), three-for-three in the Sire Stakes and successful in his last four starts. The Heston Blue Chip colt brushed to the lead after Ivy Park took the field to the top in :27, rattled off splits of :55 and 1:22.2, then easily saw off the potential pocket rocket by a length while taking a new mark of 1:49.4.

RUSH IN REPLAY

Scott Zeron drove the talented colt for trainer Linda Toscano and Lei It Ride Stables & Odds On Racing, South Mountain Stables, and Island Sun Stable.

Captain Skippy (Captaintreacherous) got away third in his PaSS cut as Dancin Champion rolled to splits of :25.4, :54.2, and 1:22, with favored Armada Hanover retaining the pocket. Dexter Dunn vacated the pylons with Captain Skippy late down the back, with Southwind Celsius joining the action from far back on the far turn. In a big battle to the finish, Captain Skippy was home first in 1:50.2, a new mark, by three-quarters of a length. Southwind Celsius and Armada Hanover were closest the wire, the former edging the latter, behind the winner, trained by Ake Svanstedt for Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Joe Sbrocco.

CAPTAIN SKIPPY REPLAY

The final Sires section was billed as a matchup between Gem Quality, 2023 Breeders Crown winner, and Captain Albano (Captaintreacherous), last year’s freshman champion, with Gem Quality drawing post five, just inside ”The Captain,” and being made a slight favorite. Gem Quality made the early lead then yielded as Captain Albano only paid a :27 price for the top. He went on to midsplits of :55.2 and 1:23, then sprinted home in :26.4 and effectively blunted his opponent’s late rally, winning by three parts of a length in 1:49.4.

Captain Albano now has two wins in as many 2024 starts, both Sire Stakes legs, and gave Captaintreacherous a second Sire Stakes credit while winning for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Noel Daley, and the ownership of Patricia Stable, L A Express & Sjoblom Inc. and Michael Dolan.

CAPTAIN ALBANO REPLAY

There were also six $20,000 Stallion Series divisions for the same group.

Women Layer raced to his third straight Stallion Series victory, and remained undefeated in six seasonal starts, proving overpowering while lowering his mark to 1:49.3. Todd McCarthy drove the Sweet Lou gelding, who also has an All-Stars triumph on his resume, for trainer Brett Pelling and the combine of Howard and Judith Taylor, Order By Stable AB, and Jerry Silva.

“Team Timmy T,” driver Tim Tetrick sand trainer Tim Twaddle, combined with the Captaintreacherous colt Arson as the sophomore posted his second straight Stallion Series success in a lifetime best 1:50.1. Arson brushed to the lead in front of the stands, then held sway to the wire for Thestable Arson Group and Hutchinson Harness LLC.

Captaintreacherous picked up another sire credit with the ridgling Rock The Captain N. The “Captain” found stretch clearance after a third-in trip to win in 1:52.2 for driver Todd McCarthy (a second StS success), trainer Tony Alagna, and the partnership of Ken Jacobs and Curtin ANZ Stables.

The Always B Miki colt Steely Knife overcame the difficult tuck-then-first-over journey to lower his speed badge to 1:50.3. Yannick Gingras steered the Ron Burke trainee for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura, and J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby.

2023 Fair Sire Stakes champion Ante Up Hanover has stepped up his game in 2024 and is now a two-time Stallion Series winner after a success in 1:51 to equal his lifetime mark. The Betting Line gelding, already a 13-time winner in his career, went on to the lead after hard early usage and paced home nicely for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, also co-owner with Christine Schadel.

Schadel won a second Stallion Series event with another Betting Line gelding, Twiggs Pub, who set a mark of 1:53.3. Twiggs Pub raced forwardly-placed, came out late on the far turn, and won as a 12-1 shot for trainer Cody Schadel, Todd’s son; father and son share ownership with “mom” Christine.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia