Chester, PA — Beach Cowgirl established herself as the filly to beat in the Sept. 4 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship with a 1:51.4 win over a very good Hello Yes Hi in her $54,586 division of the final preliminary leg of the series for 2-year-old pacing fillies, held Thursday (Aug. 25) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Driver Joe Bongiorno got Beach Cowgirl, starting from post two, around Proud Mary before yielding to Hello Yes Hi through a :27.2 quarter and drafting to the half in :56.3. Up the backstretch, long shots Daffled Hanover and Ginger Tree Coco advanced, but after the 1:24.1 three-quarters, it seemed apparent that the race would be decided by the three leavers. Hello Yes Hi continued strongly and Proud Mary angled out, but Beach Cowgirl took the inner route to defeat Hello Yes Hi in 1:51.4, with Proud Mary third.

Beach Cowgirl lifted up the inside to edge Hello Yes Hi in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action Thursday at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Grace Zimmers photo.

Jenn Bongiorno trains the Captaintreacherous-Stonebridge Sundae filly for Joseph Di Scala Jr., Zippett Racing Stable, Scarlett Stables LLC and JAF Racing LLC.

Though Beach Cowgirl won three Sire Stakes starts, she was not the leading point winner in her division, as the Captaintreacherous-My Little Delight filly My Little Captain ran her Sire Stakes record to three wins and a second-place finish by taking a new mark of 1:52.2 in her cut Tim Tetrick made two speed moves with My Little Captain during opening fractions of :28 and :57, then started the sprint home, hitting the three-quarters in 1:25 before tacking on a :27.2 kicker to beat Mind Blowing by 1-1/4 lengths. Andrew Stafford trains the talented 2-year-old for EVM Racing LLC.

In the third division, the Stay Hungry-Venus Delight filly My Hungry Girl also earned a new mark with a 1:53.2 mile. Yannick Gingras made the lead with the winner in a :28.1 opener, then yielded to favored Absolute Power and tailed that one through middle splits of :57 and 1:25.1 before tipping her outside. My Hungry Girl took her cue and took off for a 2-1/4-length victory over the chalk for trainer Ron Burke and owner Brad Grant.

Three $20,000 Stallion Series events headlined the undercard. Preliminary point leader Little Lady J assured herself a spot in the series final with a 1:53.4 win for driver David Miller and owner-trainer Mitchell York, while trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman swept the other two divisions, with Falana Hanover (1:54.3, Dexter Dunn) and Romantic Evening (1:53.3, Victor Kirby).

The overnight feature, a $22,500 handicap trot, provided an exciting finish, as $1.7 million earner Amigo Volo rallied from third-over to defeat Incommunicado by a head in 1:53.2. Dunn and Norman teamed up with the Father Patrick gelding for the Pinske Stables and David J. Miller.

Tim Tetrick boosted his season-leading win total at the track with four wins.

Friday’s (Aug. 26) featured $22,500 fast-class pace sees Komodo Beach, who in his last start equaled the fastest local clocking of the year at 1:48.4, handicapped to the outermost slot; while 2-year-old trotting fillies headline Sunday’s (Aug. 28) card with Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action. Program pages are or will be available on the PHHA website.