Burgeoning youngsters make pari-mutuel debuts

With the summer harness racing circuits in full swing across North America, it is exciting to witness the burgeoning youngsters who are emerging from first crops as well as established sires.

Today (July 10) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, a pair of well-thought-of 2-year-old fillies made their debut in what will likely become a much-anticipated rivalry throughout the rest of the 2024 season in this division. Both fillies are graduates of last fall’s Lexington Selection Yearling Sale, and both had two qualifying efforts prior to today’s contest in the second event at Philly.

Beckoning Yankee, a bay distaff from the first crop of Tall Dark Stranger posted an impressive, 1:54.4 clocking in her pari-mutuel debut. The freshman daughter out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare A Beach Cowgirl is conditioned by Nifty Norman, and was steered by Andrew McCarthy, utilizing a :28.1 final panel to secure the win in her first attempt as the 4-5 favorite.

Beckoning Yankee began her career by finishing second in a Magical Acres (New Jersey) qualifier on June 26, pacing in 1:59 for this same driver-trainer combination before posting a 2:00 winning qualifier on July 2 at Philly, where she was clocked in :27.4 for her final panel.

BECKONING YANKEE REPLAY

Bred by Yankeeland Partners LLC and foaled April 12, 2022, Beckoning Yankee was a $120,000 yearling purchase for owners Pinske Stables, Yankeeland Partners, and Larry Means. She is the second foal out of A Beach Cowgirl p, 4, 1:49.4 ($189,478) and is a half-sister to the 3-year-old colt Betthebeach Yankee (by Betting Line) p, 3, 1:53.2s ($33,141).

Princess Stella (Captaintreacherous), the 7-5 second choice, had led throughout relatively modest early panels of :29, :58, and 1:26.1, before being collared in late stretch and finishing just three-quarters of a length behind the winner. David Miller was behind the first-born daughter of world champion mare and former Horse of the Year Shartin N p, 6, 1:46.4 ($2,555,629) for trainer Tahnee Camilleri, who conditions her for Richard Poillucci.

Princess Stella was bred by Ola Yoder and foaled on February 13, 2022, and sold for $140,000 at the 2023 Lexington Select Yearling Sale. She had a third-place finish in a Pocono Downs qualifier on June 19, timed in 2:00.1, and followed that up with a fifth-place finish in a Meadowland’s qualifier on June 29, when she was clocked in 1:56.4, with a :27 final brush.

An extremely impressive debut was garnered by the Papi Rob Hanover colt I’m The One, who is conditioned by Brett Pelling and was driven to a 5½ length triumph in his debut by his son Jack Pelling in Philadelphia’s sixth contest on the afternoon. The youngster with the bright white star on his forehead pinned his ears in the late going as he breezed through panels of :28.3, :58.1, and 1:26.2, before posting a :28 final brush to prevail in 1:54.2.

Bred by the Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing, I’m The One is the second foal out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Lifetime Trust p, 4, 1:52.f ($236,739) and is a half-brother to Principle Interest (Captaintreacherous) p, 2, 1:52.3 ($21,149). He was a $205,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Lexington Select Yearling Sale for owners Let It Ride Stables, Odds On racing, and Enviro Stables.

I’m The One bested the 7-5 favorite Pretty Lou (by Sweet Lou), a gelded brown son and first foal out of the No Pan Intended mare Pretty Hot p, 8, 1:52.1s ($254,329) conditioned by Jason Skinner. Andrew McCarthy was in the sulky for owners Skinner and Michael Horn. Bred by David Kremsdorf and Jeff Potok, Pretty Lou was a $25,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Harrisburg Sale. He was making his pari-mutuel debut after finishing fourth (in 2:03) at Harrington and first (in 1:57.3) at Philly in qualifying efforts.

I’M THE ONE REPLAY

A second division of fillies went postward in Race Eleven, with 5-2 Beyonsay Yankee (Stay Hungry) prevailing easily in 1:53.4 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Nifty Norman. The dark bay filly is out of the Allamerican Native mare Bootleg Yankee and was bred and is owned by Yankeeland Partners.

This filly used a front stepping effort in her pari-mutuel debut, sailing through fractions of :28.2, :57.2, and 1:26.2 before striding confidently home for her driver. She had a pair of qualifying efforts, both at Philadelphia, pacing in 1:59.2 on June 25 and in 1:57.3 on July 2.

Foaled March 10, 2022, at Hanover, PA, Beyonsay Yankee is the 11th foal out of her dam, making her a half- or full sister to: Yankee Bounty (by Yankee Cruiser) p, 3, 1:49.3 ($849,379); Yankee Moonshine (by Yankee Cruiser) p, 3, 1:51.2f ($656,667); Binge On Yankee (by Stay Hungry) p, 4, 1:48.3 ($157,109); and Yankee Bourbon (by Ponder) p, 5, 1:52.1f ($82,345), among others.

Beyonsay Yankee was well ahead of the hard-charging second-place finisher Crescendo, a daughter of Tall Dark Stranger, for trainer Linda Toscano and driver Andrew McCarthy. Bred and owned by The Bay’s Stable, Polger Holdings LLC, Clay Horner, and Little E LLC, Crescendo was also making her pari-mutuel debut after having qualified first at The Meadowlands on June 15 (in 1:57.2) and again at Magical Acres on June 26 (in 1:56.4). This homebred is the first foal out of the unraced Captaintreacherous mare Coronet.

BEYONSAY YANKEE REPLAY

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink