Washington, PA — Captain Cowgirl (Tim Tetrick) needed a big race in Friday’s Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows to guarantee her spot in the $250,000 championship. She got it and more, drawing off to match the stake record of 1:51.

Captain Cowgirl locked up a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship slot with a stakes record-equaling victory on Friday. Chris Gooden Photo.

The $161,744 event for freshman filly pacers, known as The Meadow Cheer, was contested over two divisions, with St Nevis (Dexter Dunn) taking the other split. The Meadows will host all four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes $250,000 finals for 2-year-olds on Friday (Sept. 3). 

Captain Cowgirl (Captaintreacherous-Rideintothesunset) quarter-poled to the top for Tetrick and simply was much the best from there, defeating Somesweetsomewhere (Scott Zeron) by three lengths, with Hood Party (David Miller) third. Her time matched the stake record established by Bettor’s Up in 2016. (Tetrick was also aboard for that one.)

“She’s as good as any 2-year-old filly right now,” said Jim King, Jr., who trains the daughter of Captaintreacherous for Jo Ann Looney-King and Kenneth Frieder. “That’s a tall order, I know, but she’s a pretty good girl, she’s taken to her work well, and she recovers very well.” 

King said Captain Cowgirl, who vaulted over $100,000 in earnings, will take it easy until the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final. 

“I’ll just pat her on the head and talk nice to her until then,” he said. 

St Nevis (Always B Miki-St Kitts) had done everything this season except win, but regular reinsman Dunn indicated that not all the blame lies with her.

“You have to forgive that break last start,” Dunn said. “I was pushing her a little bit hard into the first turn. But her last quarters always have been good.”

In the Meadow Cheer, a late burst by the daughter of Always B Miki carried her a nose past Hit Me Up (Miller) in 1:51.4. JK I Feel Fine (Dave Palone) completed the ticket. Nifty Norman trains the winner for Patricia Stables, Cool Cat Racing and David McDuffie,

$60,000 PA Stallion Series Stake — 2-Year-Old Filly Pacers

Shipnstrol Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Social Scene), Lyons Serenity (Sweet Lou-Southwind Serenity) and Galleria Hanover (Always B Miki– Gallie Bythebeach) each took a $20,000 division in Friday’s sub-feature.

Shipnstrol Hanover (Miller) provided the card’s tote board pyrotechnics when, after being shuffled to fifth, she blazed home wide to pull off the 25-1 upset for trainer Norman and owners Pinske Stables, David Hoese, Lawrence Mears and Bridgette Jablonsky. 

“I raced her last week, never moved her, just kind of went up the rail, and she was loaded,” Miller said of the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Social Scene. “So she didn’t surprise me. Her last line is kind of deceiving. The last few starts she’s put it together.”

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the program features a $35,000 guarantee on the final race Super Hi-5 offered in association with the USTA Strategic Wagering Initiative. Wednesday’s card also offers a $5,000 guarantee on the Early Pick 4 (race 2) and an $815.77 carryover in the Pick 5 (race 8). First post is 12:45 p.m.