Washington, PA — Captain Cowgirl got her sophomore campaign off to a middling start, but Pennsylvania’s freshman champion will try to right the ship in Saturday’s (June 11) $133,830 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Captain Cowgirl banked more than $250,000 last year and captured the PASS title by a nose at The Meadows. But in her seasonal debut in a PASS leg at Harrah’s Philadelphia, she found herself going a tough first-over trip. The daughter of Captaintreacherous-Rideintothesunset eyeballed the winner, Treacherous Dragon, but eventually tired and finished fourth.

Captain Cowgirl (#1, outside), pictured winning last year’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final for rookie pacing fillies, seeks redemption in Saturday’s PASS preliminary for 3-year-olds at The Meadows. Chris Gooden photo.

“She got caught in a bad trip, and it’s way too early in the season for that,” says Jim King Jr., who trains Captain Cowgirl for Jo Ann Looney-King and Kenneth Frieder. “Some of the fillies have gone to the Grand Circuit races at Mohawk this weekend, so the field should be more to our liking.”

Indeed, Captain Cowgirl leaves from post four (race four, Aaron Merriman) in a small field of five, meaning trip should be no factor.

King says he’s made no major changes with the filly this year.

“She was pretty nice last year, so she didn’t have to do a lot of maturing. We are using longer hopples. She trained very well this week, and we expect a good showing out of her. There’s plenty of speed in the race, and if they all use it, that will be to our advantage. We’re thinking that this race will get her season underway.”

King indicates Captain Cowgirl will race primarily in Pennsylvania this year but is eligible to several of the lucrative year-end stakes.

In the other division of the PASS, which is known as the Adios Betty, locally based Lydeo (race one, post four, Mike Wilder) has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite off a place finish in her PASS opener.

The card also features a $60,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stakes for sophomore filly pacers. Special post time for the Belmont Day program is 11:30 a.m.