by Jerry Connors, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Harrisburg, PA — No 3-year-old in the Pennsylvania program — Sire Stakes or Stallion Series — could effect a four-race sweep of their preliminary legs in 2011, but a quartet of 2-year-olds could bring off the unblemished quadractor before the end of this week.

First up will be the baby pacing colt Sweet Lou in his Sire Stakes prelim on Wednesday (August 24) at The Meadows. The locally-based horse from the hardhitting Ron Burke stable has Hall of Famer Dave Palone, who has won the last 21 driving titles at the western PA track, set for sulkysitting duties — and he’ll start from the rail to boot.

The other three are trotting colts, and the entire trio is sired by the hot Broadway Hall — and two of them are homebreds for Fashion Farms of New Hope, Pa., also home of Broadway Hall, and only 56.8 miles from Chester, where the young squaregaiters will be racing!

One of the Fashion homebreds is Fashion Astral, who will try to go 4-4 in the Stallion Series prelims Thursday. And does this sound familiar? — he’ll start from the rail, with Dave Palone to drive.

The other colt looking to make a clean sweep of the Stallion prelims is Broadway Zinger, who starts from the rail for Trond Smedshammer (who merely set the all-age world record on a five-eighths-mile track with Arch Madness at Pocono last year).

The other trotter looking to be perfect in four PA starts is the other Fashion homebred, Stormin Normand, who races Friday in the Sire Stakes for driver Dave Palone from post four.

Sweeping or not, all these 2-year-olds should be on display in their respective Championships — the $150,000 Sires finals Saturday, September 10, at Pocono ($30,000 consolations also that day), and the $40,000 Stallion Series finals three days later at The Meadows.

3-year-old Sire Stakes (“consolation horses” listed in point order in case they might get in to Championships)
$150,000 Championships and $30,000 consolations–Monday, September 5, at Chester
3PC–Championship: Big Bad John, Jolts Virtue, Real Special, Pan From Nantucket, Hugadragon, Mystic Desire, Dana’s Sharp Smart, Sky Mesa; Consolation: Custard The Dragon, Reckless Ric, Vegas Rusty, Wink N Atcha, Keystone Velocity, Zipnthruthehall, Lucky Sniper, Hone The Razor.
3PF–Championship: Foxy Lady, Fresh Idea, Mikayla Rose, In Deep Thought, Strike An Attitude, Hasty Pulse, Jolting Kate, Mortgage Paid; Consolation: Cold Mist, Bombilla Hanover, Chartreuse Hanover, Real Amor, Virgin Mary, Pupetta, Latin Lyric, Real Joy.
3TC–Championship: Opening Night, Bambino Hall, Big Rigs, Buffalino Hanover, Orlando, Magnum Kosmos, Unabating, Washingtonian; Consolation: Onirique, Del Cielo, Just In, I Love New York, Big Tuna, Pastor Stephen, Sevruga, Haulin Laser.
3TF–Championship: Bold And Fresh, Celebrity Katie, Decolletage, Love U Overandover, Action On George, Backstreet Hanover, Cashmere N Caviar, Cedar Dove; Consolation: Caitrin Hall, Lyrical Lady, Hot Off The Press, Don’t Blink, Pacific Splash, Cutie Pie, Beatgoeson Hanover, Cantabulous.

3-year-old Stallion Series
$40,000 Championships at The Meadows–Monday, September 12
3PC–McRusty, Rampage Jackson, Voice Of Truth, Jolly Jubiter, Smile A Little, McMarvel, Hacienda, Draconian*, Fall Bliss*, Scenic Art*. (*horses equal in points and money; will shake to draw in if needed.)
3PF–Pink Magic, Elegant Desire, Cinderosa, Macapelo Rose, Hot List, Nutmegs Cider, Quik Pulse Daisy, Nutmegs Yankee, Virgin Mary.
3TC–Walltocousins, Big And Little, High Pan Tolerance, Bloomington, Fountainbleau Volo, Groom Hanover, Ooga Booga, S J Better Days, Sevruga.
3TF–Lady’s Night, Sephora De Vie, I’m A Centerfold, Linnea P, Filly Bay, Orange Bigi, Devoutly Hanover, Quantum Glidingby, Mynah Hanover.