There were two divisions of 2-year-old trotting fillies racing in second-round Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 6) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. The two winners shared an amazing number of similarities: trainer Marcus Melander, driver Dexter Dunn, sire Captain Corey, being laid off for 23 days, favoritism, lowering their lifetime bests, staying undefeated, and setting a track record for their group.
Author: from PHHA-Harrah 's Philadelphia
One More Bet wins Vernon feature
One More Bet (Jimmy Whittemore, $3.54) captured the $7,500 featured fillies and mares pace at Vernon Downs on Thursday (Aug. 6).
Pepper Wow throws hot mile at Plainridge
Pepper Wow turned a first-over move into a career best-tying effort as he won the $20,000 trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Aug. 6).
Pandy’s Meadowlands selections for Saturday, Aug. 8
Handicapper Bob Pandolfo offers his selections for the full card at the Meadowlands on Saturday (Aug. 8).
Bartlett bags NYSS double at the Spa
Jason Bartlett swept the pair of $74,500 New York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old male pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 4) at Saratoga Casino Hotel, teaming Marie’s Jet and Rose Run Cowboy to victory in their respective events.
Gigi N Miki game in Pocono feature
On a speed-favoring Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, the freshman Always B Miki-Gigi From Fiji filly Gigi N Miki went wire-to-wire in the biggest purse event of the day, a $16,000 event restricted to 2-year-old pacing misses, kicking home in :28 to break her maiden in 1:55.1.
Acushla Machree N, Sweet Hayley Jane A crack 1:50 at Plainridge
It was ladies’ day at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 4) as the best resident fillies and mares lined up to compete, and the top two classes both produced sub-1:50 miles and career performances for their respective winners.
Banana Beach best in Kentucky Championship opening round
Banana Beach rebounded from a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final at Oak Grove with a narrow win in the back-half sprint of the opening preliminary of the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 4) at the Red Mile.
Brandon Blvd, Darlin’s Angel strong in Tompkins-Geers
Brandon Blvd and Darlin’s Angel were convincing winners in a pair of Tompkins-Geers events on Saturday night (Aug. 1) at the Meadowlands.
Apex, Big Ranger convert in Hambletonian elims
Apex, Marcus Melander’s millionaire trainee, stamped himself as a likely favorite for next week’s $1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian by way of a gutsy 1:50.4 win the first $100,175 elimination for the 101st edition of the classic for 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (Aug. 1) at the Meadowlands. Big Ranger delivered a statement win in the second elimination, leaving his nine foes well in his wake for a decisive 1:50 score.