by Jerry Connors, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Harrisburg, PA — The 2013 Pennsylvania stakes season kicks off in earnest Wednesday (May 15) with Stallion Series action for 3-year-old fillies, trotters at The Meadows and pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia. These events will be followed by their companion Sire Stakes races, on Thursday at Harrah’s Philadelphia and on Friday at The Meadows.

The 2012 division champion Somwherovrarainbow headlines the Thursday pacing action at Harrah’s Philadelphia. A daughter of the great mare Rainbow Blue, Somwherovrarainbow was third in her seasonal debut at the Meadowlands, but she improved with racing last year, and figures to do so again in 2013 and in this second start of the campaign.

The final of the four divisions is also intriguing, as last year’s Sire Stakes champion Handsoffmycupcake will be challenged by Charisma Hanover, three-for-three this year for the red-hot team of Ron Burke/Yannick Gingras.

In the trotting action Friday at The Meadows, Frau Blucher returns to the track where she won her divisional championship in 2012. Named after the Cloris Leachman character in Mel Brooks’ famous film Young Frankenstein, the diamondgaited miss sits literally and figuratively behind the eight-ball, in post eight, but brings in another red-hot duo in driver Jim Morrill, Jr. and trainer Chris Oakes.

The card kicks off with a Sire Stakes division headed by Defiant Donato, three-for-three for trainer Jim Campbell in 2013, with Hall of Fame driver Dave Palone slated for sulky action.

Finishing Lines: Please note the five-day race rule that has previously applied to the Stallion Series will also apply to all 2013 Pennsylvania pari-mutuel Sire Stakes harness racing.

Also, please note that May 15 payments for the various Pennsylvania programs are to be postmarked by Wednesday. Payments are due for all groups except 3-year-old pari-mutuel competitors and those 2-year-olds not racing in stakes this year. Call 717.787.5539 or e-mail gconnors@pa.gov for forms or more information.