Trio equal season’s mark in PASS at Philly
August 2, 2018,from PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — Prospect Hill and Demon Onthe Hill, both sons of Muscle Hill, became the fastest freshman trotters of 2018 on a five-eighths-mile track with 1:55.4 clockings in their respective Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victories Thursday afternoon (Aug. 2) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Their mark was then equaled in the third Sire Stakes division by the Cantab Hall colt Osterc, with all three victors taking lifetime bests.
The Muscle Hill-Louise Kemp colt Prospect Hill established himself on the lead at the three-eighths after a :27.3 first quarter, then got a breather to a :57.3 half. Ginger Tree Skyr came first-over up the backstretch, and those two had dueled past three-quarters in 1:26.1. Prospect Hill finally closed out the decision in deep stretch, a length better than his tough rival, for trainer Julie Miller, driver Andy Miller and owners Stroy Inc. Thursday’s triumph was the third in succession for Prospect Hill.
Demon Onthe Hill, a son of Muscle Hall and Sabrina Hall, came first-up off the second turn after early fractions of :27.3 and :57.2, and trotted strongly right by to the lead at the 1:26 three-quarters. Fashion Possessed, who had been racing in the pocket, came out in the winner’s wake mid-far turn, but he could get no closer than 1-3/4 lengths. Demon On the Hill was victorious for driver Brian Sears, trainer Marcus Melander and Vicky Trotting Inc.
The Cantab Hall-Oh Oh Hereshecomes colt Osterc was three-deep for much of the :28.2 first panel in his section, but driver Yannick Gingras kept him going forward to command at the three-eighths before posting middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27. Favorite Flippen Creek loomed as a potential pocket rocket, but Osterc stayed clear by 2-1/2 lengths while running his record to 2-for-3 for trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Christina Takter and Goran Falk.
The parade of top Pennsylvania-sired 2-year-old colts continues in the next two cards with pacers featured, as Friday (Aug. 3) finds seven divisions of Stallion Series action slated, while on Sunday (Aug. 5) four divisions of the Sire Stakes hard-hitters will highlight the action.
Moonshiner Hanover overcame the tuck-then-grind trip to post a victory in 1:52.3, a new mark, in the $18,000 feature for older trotters over a late-charging Tyson. David Miller guided the son of Andover Hall, now a winner of $544,457, for trainer Chris Beaver, who co-owns with Synerco Ventures Inc. and Bill Manes.