by Jerry Connors, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Harrisburg, PA — The leading pointearners for two more divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series were established over the weekend, with the likely fields shaping up to provide hard-fought contests in their championships.

Both Sire Stakes and Stallion Series 3-year-old colt trotters raced on Friday at The Meadows, and after the contests, the top eight pointearners, assuring themselves championship spots, are (in point order) Valley Of Sin, Aperfectyankee, High Bridge, Smoother Ride (2012 Stallion Series champion) and Spider Blue Chip (tie), Bluto, It’s Complicated, and Possessed Fashion. PaSS rules call for two programmed AEs for the championship races, and they are Celebrity Maserati as first AE, and second AE (and defending champion) Dontyouforgetit, who was tied in points with Vibe Blue Chip but had the greater earnings in the Sire Stakes.

If the AEs do not scratch in, they race in the consolation. Joining the three horses mentioned above would be, in order, Wind Of The North, Picture This, Lindy’s Tru Grit, Creatine, Punxsutawney, and Show Ticket, the last-named outearning two others tied in points with him.

Making the top nine pointwinners for the Stallion Series championship were Rossini, Spiro De Vie, Marat, Sailer Eddie, Me And Cinderella and Panamanian Hanover (tie), Born To Fight, Team Six, and Hampton Beach.

Also on Friday, at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, the Stallion Series 3-year-old pacing fillies settled on their top nine pointearners: Icommandmyspirit, American Ginger, Dragon Ruffles and Mattwestern (tie), Antigua Hanover, Aquamarine Hanover, Juice Hanover, Beautiful Artist, and Spotlight On, who was tied with Save My Dragon in points but had higher earnings in the series.

On Saturday at Pocono, their Sire Stakes counterparts sorted themselves out, with the top eight in points led by Somwherovrarainbow, followed by in order Charisma Hanover, Novascotia Hanover, the tied triumvirate of Carols Desire, Native Dream, and Nikki Beach, Live Entertainment, and defending champion Handsoffmycupcake, who claimed the final spot with superior earnings over Champagne Tonight, who had equal points.

Champagne Tonight is thus AE1 for the championship; Mistresstothestars is AE2. Should they not scratch in they will be joined in the consolation by R Marie Hanover, Scandulous Hanover and UF’s Dragon Queen (tie), Sweet Lady Jane, Donna Lee, Exotic Beach, and either Aunt Caroline or Icommandmyspirit, who finished tied in both points and earnings; their fate will (or may; see below) be determined by a pill shake.

The $260,000 championships for 3-year-old Sire Stakes horses, along with their $50,000 consolations, will be held Friday night (Sept. 13) at The Meadows; their Stallion Series counterparts will go in $40,000 championships at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Sept. 7).

The sharp-eyed among our readers may have noticed Icommandmyspirit leading the 3PF Stallion Series, and in a shake for a spot for the Sire Stakes consolation as well. Pennsylvania rules allow declaration in only one of the two pari-mutuel championship categories, Sire Stakes (which includes its consolations) or Stallion Series, so the connections of Icommandmyspirit, and maybe one or two others who will be similarly-positioned, will have to make a choice before the Stallion Series championship draw.

Finishing Lines: None of the four categories above produced a leader who “swept” the four prelim legs; the closest was Somwherovrarainbow, with three wins and a second…The other completed division in preliminaries, the sophomore pacing colts, had no Sire Stakes sweepers, but two Stallion Series prospects, Big Time Promise and Shock It To ‘Em, are 4-4 in the StS this year…Those whose horses finished close to the top pointwinners but didn’t quite make these cuts are reminded to drop in anyway if so inclined, as horses above them may have other plans, be turned out, etc.