by James Witherite-Rieg, track announcer, Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack

Chester, PA — The Monday (August 27) card at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack featured six divisions of Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action, with 2-year-old pacing fillies in the limelight.

Ready To Win ($2.40) and driver Yannick Gingras proved most impressive, pacing the mile in 1:53.1, a track record for freshman filly pacers. Before Monday’s Sires Stakes program, Artexpress (Tim Tetrick) held the mark for freshman fillies, pacing the mile in 1:55 in July.

The daughter of Dragon Again left from the outside, but was overtaken going into the first turn by Bon Mot (Mark Lewis). Ready To Win then dropped in second and followed Bon Mot to a quarter of :27.4. Gingras pulled with the Josh Green trainee just at the head of the stretch, taking the lead at the five-sixteenths before backing the tempo down to a half of :56.4. After going unchallenged to a three-quarters of 1:25, Ready To Win drew clear by 1-1/2 lengths. Late challenges from Real Nasty Miss (George Brennan) and Kwik Katie (David Miller) were futile, as the 1-5 betting favorite drew off even further, winning by 2-1/2 lengths.

The first division saw Conchita Hanover (Cat Manzi) shave over a second off the previous track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies, splitting rivals in the final strides to stop the timer in 1:53.2.

Other division winners were Caviart Vegas (Mike Wilder, 1:54.1), Saymynamesaymyname (George Brennan, 1:54.2), Dark Secret (Tim Tetrick, 1:55.3), and Lady Annie (Tim Tetrick, 1:54.2).

Earlier in the day, Dreams Are Great (Eric Goodell) tied the track record for older pacing mares, turning in a 1:51.1 performance in the Open Pace for fillies and mares. The Joe Poliseno-trained daughter of Dream Away shares the mark with Riddlemethat (Corey Callahan) and Nanny Withafanny (Tim Tetrick).

Live racing resumes at Harrah’s Chester on Wednesday, August 29, with the 13-race card set to begin at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).