by PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Rainbow Room, Manchego, Pedro Hanover and Fashion Woodchopper are the latest Keystone State champions after their victories in the four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championships on a Labor Day Monday (Sept. 4) twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Rainbow Room improves her record to five-for-six lifetime with a front-end score.

2-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY FINAL

Pacesetting Rainbow Room had archrival Come See The Show look her right in the eye nearing the three-quarter pole of her $252,000 championship and the outside horse of the two brilliantly bred fillies even got a short brief lead. Rainbow Room, however, shook off her uncovered opponent and went on to score a 1-1/2 length victory over pocketsitting Scuola Hanover, with Come See The Show falling back in the stretch.

David Miller hustled the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Rainbow Blue to the lead early with Come See The Show tucking fourth. The latter filly moved uncovered past the three-eighths to challenge, and then Rainbow Room asserted herself.

“I knew I still had a lot of horse,” Miller said.

The winner is now five for six lifetime, including three PA Sire Stake legs and now the fiinal, putting her earnings at $211,199 for trainer Joe Holloway and owners Crawford Farms Racing, Val D’Or Farms, and Ted Gewertz.

2-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLY FINAL
“My main job was just to stay in the sulky behind her.”

So said driver Yannick Gingras after guiding the undefeated Muscle Hill-Secret Magic filly Manchego to her sixth straight victory that stopped the clock in 1:54.2. The time tied the stake record of Wild Honey and lowered her own season’s record by two-fifths of a second.

Gingras did not rush Manchego away, settling in third early, then moved her in front of the stands and went up to the lead easily despite some stretch headwind. The filly appeared to draw off at will the last three-eighths, stepping home in :56.1. Her margin at the wire was 4-1/4 lengths over Hey Blondie, who gapped second-over then found a higher gear late and was along by three-quarters of a length for second over Tiffany’s Flash.

Manchego now has a bankroll of $335,898 after only a half-dozen starts for trainer Jimmy Takter and the ownership of Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman.

Curtis Salonick photos

Pedro Hanover demonstrates a new dimension in his championship triumph.

2-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT FINAL
Pedro Hanover, who had developed a reputation as a big closer in his five pari-mutuel starts from post seven to grind to the lead at the three-eighths. He then opened up a bit on a turn, then was put under a drive to withstand a charging late group to win his final in 1:51, equaling his personal best.

“You can’t get away seventh in this field,” driver Andrew McCarthy said afterward. “When the speed had slowed a little, I went for the top.”

The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Paula’s Best opened up a bit turning into the stretch, but McCarthy kept the horse to urging, withstanding the closer Hayden Hanover by a length; Wes Hanover parlayed an inside trip to a third, just a neck behind Hayden Hanover.

Andrew Harris is the trainer of Pedro Hanover, who now sports two earnings of $229,404 for owners Brad Gray and Denise Guerriero.

2-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT FINAL
Jules Siegel, who owns Fashion Farms LLC, is on the ballot for election to the Hall of Fame, and is the owner of freshman trotting colt champion Fashionwoodchopper. He still feells the thrill of victory like a first-time owner.

David Miller, driving his second champion of the night, got away in seventh with the son of Muscle Hill-Impressive Kemp.

“But it just worked out for us,” Miller said afterwards. “We were able to go up second-over.”

This would be behind Toast Of Lindy as that one speed-grinded uncovered to challenge the pacesetter Scirocco Rob, getting closer and closer from the five-eighths onwards.

Fashionwoodchopper swung three-wide headstretch, but looked like he was going to lose his momentum as he lugged in a little early in the lane. The colt won in 1:57.1 by a length over the unlucky Lawmaker, who had the lead, yielded it to Scirocco Rob, and then was shuffled some as the pacesetter tired; Lawmaker did win the photo for second over Toast Of Lindy.

Consolation Winners

Alexa’s Power (Somebeachsomewhere-Michelle’s Power)- 2-year-old pacing fillies

Follow Hanover (Donato Hanover-Streak) – 2-year-old trotting fillies

Closing Statement (Somebeachsomewhere-Ideal Newton) – 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings

Met’s Hall (Cantab Hall-Met’s Inn) – 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings