by Don Bielak, for Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack
Chester, PA — Harness racing’s brightest star, unbeaten world record holder See You At Peelers, heads a big day of racing as Harrah’s Chester presents its fourth annual Super Stakes Sunday on August 21.
Super Stakes Sunday’s main events consist of a trio of rich and prestigious Grand Circuit stakes for 3-year-olds, the $500,000 Colonial Trot, the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine Pace, and the $350,000 Valley Forge Pace. Several generous consolations for the three stakes, along with several high caliber overnight events, make up the undercard.
Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding’s See You At Peelers, a winner of all of her 21 career starts while banking more than $1.3 million in purse money, will attempt to extend that record of excellence in the $350,000 Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight should relish the Chester oval, having set a world record of 1:49.2 on the five-eighths-mile track at Tioga Downs this spring. See You At Peelers is trained by Jimmy Takter and will be driven by Marcus Johansson. The duo will start from post two as the 8-5 morning line choice.
The main threats to the favorite are Krispy Apple, who has drawn the rail with Tim Tetrick, and Idyllic, who will leave the gate from post three with David Miller in the sulky.
For the first time since 2007 when Chester revived the Colonial Trot — once the crown jewel of the stakes schedule at the old Liberty Bell Park — the Hambletonian winner will participate. Fam Alber Horse Racing’s Broad Bahn, fresh off a pacesetting victory on August 6 in the $1.5 million Hambo at the Meadowlands, will open on the board at 9-2 in the morning line. The son of Broadway Hall has won half of his eight starts this year and has lifetime earnings of $1.1 million, including his score in the Hambletonian. The Noel Daley trainee will start from post five and will be handled by his regular pilot, George Brennan.
However, the one to beat in the Colonial appears to be Purple Haze Stable’s Dejarmbro. The Credit Winner colt has won seven of his nine outings this season, including a convincing score over Broad Bahn in the $500,000 Earl Beal Memorial at Pocono Downs in June. Dejarmbro, a small oval specialist, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The Trond Smedshammer trainee will start from post two with Brian Sears.
The Battle of the Brandywine shapes up as a showdown between the $1 million Meadowlands Pace winner, Roll With Joe, and the winner of the Adios, Alsace Hanover.
Roll With Joe, who is owned by Bluechip Bloodstock, Stephen Demeter, Not To Worry Stable and Winbak Farm and is conditioned by Ed Hart, has accumulated more than $1 million in his career and comes into the Battle off a solid third place finish in a division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes at the Big M on August 6. The Cam’s Card Shark colt has drawn the rail and will be guided by Ron Pierce as the 7-2 second choice in the early line.
The 5-2 choice in the Battle of the Brandywine is John Fielding’s Alsace Hanover. The gelded son of The Panderosa has shown an affinity for smaller ovals and enters the Battle off an impressive victory in the $500,000 Adios final at the Meadows on July 30. Alsace Hanover, who has won six of his nine starts this season, will leave the gate from post five and will be handled by Scott Zeron for trainer Tony O’Sullivan.
First post for Chester’s big 13-race Super Stakes Sunday card has been set for 2 p.m. (EDT).
- Broad Bahn looks for rare Hambo-Colonial double (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)
Broad Bahn will look to become the first Hambletonian winner since Mack Lobell in 1987 to also capture The Colonial when the $500,000 race for 3-year-old trotters is contested Sunday at Harrah’s Chester.
- Roll With Joe leads eight in Battle of the Brandywine (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)
Meadowlands Pace winner Roll With Joe will see plenty of familiar faces in Sunday’s $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine at Harrah’s Chester.