by Mike Bozich, for Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — Sophomores took front and center stage at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Labor Day afternoon (Sept. 7) in the PA Stallion Series championships. Each of the four events carried a purse of $40,000.

Colbert was a 1:57 winner for Ake Svanstedt in the colt trot.

In the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot, it was Courant A B and Knutsson Trotting’s Colbert (Ake Svanstedt) getting the victory.

The son of Cantab Hall settled in to an early pocket spot behind the speed of Julie Miller trainee Mesmerized (Andy Miller) by the opening quarter in :27.2. After a rated :30.2 second quarter (:57.4 half), race favorite Jackson’s Minion (Tom Jackson) rushed up to challenge for the lead, with Colbert committing to the outside.

The battle continued past three-quarters in 1:26.1 and that’s when Jackson’s Minion went off stride. Colbert was able to move wide past the breaker, and outduel a game Mesmerized in the stretch to win by a neck, stopping the clock in 1:57. It was the third career win for Colbert, who now has more than $82,000 in career earnings. He paid $7.60 to win.

The 3-year-old filly trot went to Chuck Sylvester trainee Murderers Row (Tim Tetrick).

The daughter of Donato Hanover settled into an early third behind the speed of nine-time winner Sistas (George Napolitano Jr.), who was first to the quarter in :28. After a rated half in :57.3, Murderers Row moved up to challenge for the lead. They were on even terms at three-quarters in 1:26 and the battle continued all the way through the stretch drive.

Murderers Row was able to get the neck out in front at the wire for the win, stopping the timer in a career best 1:55. Sistas settled for second, while Wouldn’t Itbesweet (Corey Callahan) finished third.

It was Murderers Row’s third straight win, and sixth career tally, moving her lifetime earnings just shy of $150,000. She is owned by Steve Jones, Ted Gewertz, and Mary Kinsey. She paid $8.00.

Scott Cantor photos

Apricot Sour won in a career best 1:52 for George Napolitano Jr.

Owner Ted Gewertz was in the winner’s circle once again, this time in the 3-year-old filly pace with Apricot Sour (George Napolitano Jr.).

The daughter of Well Said had a brief encounter with longshot Eloquently Stated (Yannick Gingras) at the quarter pole in :27.2, but was able to steer past and rate the second quarter (:28.4). After sprinting away at three-quarters in 1:23, she found herself all alone at the wire, winning by six lengths and stopping the clock in a career best 1:52. Favorite Dobre Povedane (Corey Callahan) finished second, while Repeat Please (Dave Palone) was third.

It was the sixth career win for the Anette Lorentzon trainee, who now has earnings just short of $85,000. She paid $6.80 to win.

The upset of the day came in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, as Shirley Le Vin’s Parklane Eagle was given a clever Brett Miller drive to win.

The son of Somebeachsomewhere was able to establish early position behind the speed up front. Julie Miller trainee Badiou Hanover (Andy Miller) and race favorite Trading Up (Yannick Gingras) battled by the quarter in :26.4. After Badiou Hanover secured the lead from post eight, he had to deal with parked out longshot Techtor Hanover (Corey Callahan) at the half in :55.3.

As Techtor Hanover started to fade, Jo Pa’s Well Said (David Miller) drove aggressively three-wide up to challenge at three-quarters in 1:23.3. As they came into the stretch, Brett Miller was able to weave Parklane Eagle through traffic, outsprinting Trading Up in the final 70 yards to win by a head, stopping the clock in 1:52.3. Badiou Hanover finished a game third.

It was the seventh win for Parklane Eagle ($28.80) pushing his career totals to more than $132,000. He is trained by Pete Foley.