Chester, PA — Crantini won his second consecutive Pennsylvania Sire Stakes outing on Thursday (July 21) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:56.2, while French Wine broke his maiden in 1:55.4 in the other $75,816 division.

The International Moni-Peach Martini colt Crantini has already captured stakes at all three of Pennsylvania’s pari-mutuel tracks: a Sire Stakes win at The Meadows, a Pennsylvania All-Stars triumph at Pocono, and now his Philly victory. Scott Zeron got Crantini to the lead in :28.3, backed the half off to :59.1, then passed the three-quarters in 1:27.3 before holding off Once In A Lifetime by three-quarters of a length for trainer Megan Scran and The Stable Crantini Group while equaling his mark.

Crantini completed a “trifecta” of stakes wins at Pennsylvania’s three commercial harness tracks with a 1:56.2 win at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Though making only his second purse start, French Wine joined Crantini as a winning favorite, largely on the strength of being photoed out in 1:55.1 in his debut last Friday at the Meadowlands. The Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi colt raced from far back for driver Andy Miller, moving after early splits of :28.1 and :58.2 and then going his own third panel in an amazing :26.3 to challenge for the lead by the 1:26.1 three-quarters. French Wine kept going in the lane and defeated 42-1 shot Kobe B by a length for trainer Julie Miller and Andy Miller Stable Inc., Daniel and Jean-Christophe Plouffe, and Michael Côté Gagnon.

French Wine put together a monstrous rally in the back half of his 1:55.4 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory. Grace Zimmers photos.

Driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Tim Twaddle combined to win two of the four $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, doing so with Carter Michael Deo (1:57) and Tailgate Buzz (1:58.1). Sir Frank (Matt Kakaley, 1:57.2) and Alonso (Tim Tetrick, 1:59.1) won the other splits.

In a $22,500 fast-class handicap trot, Scirocco Rob went off at a generous 10-1 – he was coming off a three-week layoff but had won two of his last four starts in this class at the riverside oval. The Explosive Matter gelding rushed up uncovered in the last half before charging home in :27.2 to complete a 1:53.1 mile where he was 1-3/4 lengths clear at the finish for his third win in his last five starts. Corey Callahan drove the winner of $687,546 for trainer Mark Silva and owner Kathleen Whitaker.

The racing week closes out at Harrah’s Philadelphia with a Friday (July 22) card at 12:25 p.m. and a Sunday (July 24) program beginning at 12:40 p.m.. Program pages are or will be available on the PHHA website.