Chester, PA — Allywag Hanover and Captain Groovy, both 3-year-old pacing colts who have already won in 1:48 in this shortened season of racing, are among five fields after $39,432 each in their first preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Friday afternoon (July 10) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. There will also be six $20,000 divisions of the companion Pennsylvania Stallion Series action.

The Captaintreacherous colt Allywag Hanover did in fact enter the elimination races for the Meadowlands Pace, which will be conducted this Saturday. But when only 12 colts dropped in for that event, the conditions of the race called for byes to be offered to the top seasonal money winners, with two going directly to the rich July 18 event and the other ten racing there this week, with the top eight coming back for the Pace final. Allywag Hanover was third in seasonal earnings and opted out to come to Philadelphia, as did Chief Mate, who was second in 2020 earnings.

After a good freshman campaign, Allywag Hanover has been nothing short of sensational so far this year with two Meadowlands victories, the latest last Saturday in 1:48, coming his own last quarter in :25.3. Trained by Brett Pelling for Allywag Stable, the colt is scheduled to be handled by Tim Tetrick Friday from post six in the eighth race field of seven.

Captain Groovy, also a son of Captaintreacherous, posted his 1:48 on June 20 at the Jersey mile track, rushing home in :26. Not kept eligible for the Meadowlands Pace, Captain Groovy is slated to be driven by Mark MacDonald from the middle of the 12th race field of seven for trainer Ray Schnittker, who is also a co-owner with Ted Gewertz, Howard Taylor, and Mary Kinsey Arnold.

Also drawing post four for his tenth race Sires event is Chief Mate, who has won in 1:50.2 here and 1:50 at Pocono in an undefeated campaign. Yet another son of top sire Captaintreacherous, George Napolitano Jr. has been tapped to drive the developing pacer for trainer Tony Alagna and the ownership of Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Brad Grant, and Captain Kirk Racing.

The two fastest 2020 winners in the seventh race Sires division have drawn the outside posts six and seven, respectively: the Somebeachsomewhere colt Enough Sun (1:51 at The Meadows), with David Miller getting the early call from trainer Brian Brown, and the Captaintreacherous gelding The Greek Freak (1:50.3 at Pocono), slated to have Matt Kakaley in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke.

The 11th race division may be the most wide-open of the five Sire Stakes contests. Fastest seasonal winner in that section is the Well Said colt Lyons Skipper, moving into the Jim King Jr. barn after a 1:52.2 win at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with Tim Tetrick listed to drive from post four.