from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — Hall of Famer David Miller guided 2-year-old pacing fillies May Bride Hanover and Skater Chick to their third Pennsylvania Stallion Series victories on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 23) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, each their third straight triumph after skipping the first leg, and he may have a hard decision to make as to which filly to guide in the group’s championship race here on Labor Day Monday.

Skater Chick, a daughter of Sweet Lou–Ram Rocker, had to do some fancy skating down the backstretch for Miller during her win. She was positioned second-over behind Serena Said, who had steering issues throughout, and when that filly bore out a path just past the five-eighths, Miller guided his filly right through two-wide to go up and tackle the pacesetting Unspoken Promise. From there, Skater Chick had relatively clear sailing, finishing 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Alkippe, who came up the inside to catch Unspoken Promise for second, in 1:54.2. Skater Chick is trained by Mark Harder for Donald Lindsey, Paul Kleinpaste, and Garth Bechtel.

In no way did the Captaintreacherous–Musicale Hanover filly May Bride Hanover have it easy in taking her third straight Stallion Series contest. Miller took a four-tuck early with his charge, then grinded up uncovered and was able to seize a small lead on the far turn, which she extended into the stretch. That jump was good enough to keep her clear of Michelon’s Filly, who had been hampered by dull cover but came flying late to reduce the winner’s advantage to a half-length at the end of the 1:53.1 mile. Nifty Norman conditions the streaking freshman, who had the fastest mile in StS prelim competition with a 1:52.3 win at The Meadows, for the Pinske Stables and David Hoese.

Trillions Hanover, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere–Tulu Hanover, went straight to the lead in her Stallion Series cut, got to the half in a relatively slow :57.4 under Brett Miller’s guidance, then scurried home in :55–:27 to win by an easy 4-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4, fastest of all the Thursday divisions and a personal best. Trillions Hanover became a winner in an StS contest for the second straight time for trainer Tom Fanning and the ownership of Fanning Racing, VIP Internet Stables, and the J L Benson Stable Inc.

The Somebeachsomewhere–Foxy Lady miss What A Fox benefited from the red-hot hands of driver Andrew McCarthy to post an upset in her division, holding off 1-5 favorite Darn Tootn Hanover by a neck to take a maiden mark of 1:54.4. McCarthy sent his filly first-over down the backstretch, grinded to the lead shortly after turning for home, then held off the steady late rush of the favorite, who came from sixth at the three-quarter pole, to triumph for trainer Brett Pelling and owner David McDuffee.

The Harness Bureau of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission is the official keeper of PA-sired competition points, but an unofficial tally of the standings after the races yielded these horses as the leading point-winners (ties broken by money won): 1. (tie) May Bride Hanover and Skater Chick, 3. Trillions Hanover, 4. Rock N McRoll, 5. Sweet Cherry, 6. Margret Hill, 7. Unspoken Promise, 8. Michelon’s Filly, 9. Able Hanover, 10. Another Beach Day.

Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing fillies go in two divisions of their final preliminary round on Friday’s card here. Double winners Warrawee Ubeaut and Treacherous Reign drew into separate divisions, and seem likely to be the crowd’s choices as they go postward.