by PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, Pa. — Two-year-old trotting fillies were out in force Wednesdayafternoon (July 18) at Harrah’s Philadelphia as the track hosted second-round action inboth the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (five divisions) and Pennsylvania StallionSeries (six divisions).

SonnetGrace now has three stakes wins in as many career starts, including two SireStakes triumphs (the only filly to accomplish that feat), after rallying in thepassing lane for a 1:57.2 victory. The daughter of Muscle Massive – I Believe, sporting a granddamwho is none other than precocious champion CR Kay Suzie, was content to ride inthe pocket behind Magical Beliefs, then outtrotted her home in :28.4, withbreeder/owner/trainer/driver Rod Allen barely having to ask his filly formore down the lane. In her previous start, Sonnet Grace had also shown a fine lateburst to win in 1:56.2 over a sloppy The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono course, still as fast a mile forany trotter on a five-eighth mile track.

The Explosive Matter – Fast Lane K filly Rush Lane began hercareer with three straight seconds, including a nose loss to Sonnet Hill inthat 1:56.2 mile, but she changed her luck Wednesday and got home first whileequaling that 1:56.2 season’s record. Rush Lane made two early rushes to the lead for driver YannickGingras and retained control after the second one, holding off the uncoveredbid of favored Personal Paradise by 1-3/4 lengths while stepping home in :58 fortrainer Richard Gillock and owner/breeder Robert Key.

Corey Callahan was patient early with the Muscle Hill – UF Tady’sDonato filly Scirocco Donnahill, keeping her behind the cover of favored FateSmiled, and when that one moved to the lead off the first bend, Callahan wentup with his filly, grabbed the racetrack at the three-eighths, and maintainedher advantage on her main rival to the wire in 1:57. The John Butenschoen trainee, second in a Pa. All-Stars race inher only other purse event, won by a length for Kathleen and Lewis Whitaker Jr.

Antonia was away slowly and had trouble throughout, but the DonatoHanover – Tactical Caviar miss ate up real estate through the stretch afterbeing tipped wide by David Miller and reached the wire a half-length ahead offavored pacesetter Darla P while stopping the clock in 1:57,a new mark. She had made a break in her only other purse start yet rallied forfourth, but Wednesday she put it all together for trainer Nifty Norman and ownersMelvin Hartman, Little E LLC and the Pinske Stables.

Aftersweeping four Pa. All-Stars sections for the division’s pacing counterparts thenight before at Pocono, trainer Ron Burke’s brigade took a Sire Stakes prize hereWednesday as the Donato Hanover – Susi’s Image distaff Hanovers Best set allthe pace for Gingras, then held off favorite Ma Was Right by theslightest of margins while stopping the timer in 1:57.

The winner, who made a break in her only other purse start, showedshe’ll prove tough when behaving for Burke and owner William Fisher.

In Stallion Series action, the Explosive Matter – Nan’s Conwaymiss Navarone Hanover overcame the outside post six and a tuck-then-grind journeyfor Tim Tetrick, gunning down pacesetter Lindy Missunshine by three-quarters ofa length late while taking in 1:58. The Bob Baggitt Jr.-trained filly, owned by Christine Baggitt, isnow undefeated after two purse starts.

The Muscle Massive – Ts Fast Forward filly Fast Reaction is nowtwo-for-two in the Stallion Series after edging Southwind Percy by a neck in 1:58,lowering her mark.

Trainer/driver Rick Beinhauer, also breeder and owner with ReginaBeinhauer, used the rail to maximum advantage, taking a quick lead and savingenough energy to preserve the triumph.

Anotherdaughter of Muscle Massive, Wizard Hawk (out of the mare Valley Makayla) wasthe only filly who could stay close to the fast but bad-mannered Run Lindy Runin the early part of their cut, and after that one put up fractions of :28 andapproached a :56.4 half, she made a break and went to the infield. This change in fortune left Wizard Hawk with a huge lead, whichshe maintained to the finish for a 1:58.4 maiden victory. Charlie Norris completed a rare trainer/driver Pick-3 (followingthe respective victories of Rod Allen and Rick Beinhauer in preceding races).The freshman is owned by Carrie Norris, LJB Racing LLC and Scott Mceneny.

Driver Victor Kirby and the Explosive Matter – Warrawee Lassiefilly Wildfire Seelster took their Stallion series cut in a maiden mark of2:00.1. Wildfire Seelster was fourth early, then third as the leader brokeat the half, then second as the pocketsitter broke into the backstretch, andKirby steadily advanced the filly, taking the inside path home to a 3-1/4 lengthvictory over Chanel De Vie. Owner/trainer Austin Brubacker’s filly had not been worse thanfourth in three purse starts, but she made her breakthrough Wednesday bystaying calm and steady.

Trainer Burke also captured a Stallion Series division with the Muscle Hill – SayWhat filly Southwind Storm, making her two-for-two in the competition. Matt Kakaley and his Burke-trained filly had control of the raceearly and were never threatened, stopping the timer in 2:00,which equaled the mark she took in her other Stallion Series win. She’s ownedby Burke Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence Karr, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libbyand Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

ThePossess The Will – Raising Rachel filly Fashion Rachel won the last race of thecard, a Stallion Series event, in 1:58,holding off the potential pocket rocket and favorite Explosive Mel by a length.David Miller handled the winner for trainer Jim Campbell and owner/breederFashion Farms LLC.

To summarize: Gingras drove two Sire Stakes winners, whiledriver David Miller and trainer Ron Burke had a victory in both classes … Allthe Stallion Series winners were favorites except the last one, who paid $6.60,while the only favorite that won in the Sire Stakes was Sonnet Grace, althoughno winner returned higher than $7.80 … And Sonnet Grace was the only one of the11 stakes-winning fillies not to take a new mark.