Wilkes-Barre, PA — Driver Yannick Gingras guided both Sister Sledge and Queen Of The Hill to their third victories in undefeated Pennsylvania Sire Stakes campaigns on Monday (Aug. 19) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Sister Sledge had been regarded as the leader of the division at this point, and even though she went in 1:56.1 to Queen Of The Hill’s 1:55, she lost none of her luster. The 2-year-old daughter of Father Patrick and Behindclosedoors quarter-moved after a :29 opener, was allowed to get to the half in :59.3, then sprinted home in full control, with long shot Ginger Tree Bren closing late to within 2-1/2 lengths at the finish.

Sister Sledge is undefeated in five career starts, with the Sire Stakes joined by an Arden Downs win and a Pennsylvania All-Stars win in which she took her mark of 1:53.4. Ron Burke trains for the Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jason Melillo and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.

Queen Of The Hill wasn’t even favored in her Sire Stakes cut, mainly because she was facing Sherry Lyns Lady (3-5), who had a previous Sire Stakes win and a second-place finish in the James Doherty Memorial. Queen Of The Hill brushed to the lead after a :28.3 quarter, and in turn she yielded to Sherry Lyns Lady at the :58 half. In the stretch, Queen Of The Hill went to the Pocono Pike to challenge the leader and prevailed by a head in 1:55, a new mark. Per Engblom trains the daughter of Explosive Matter and Flyer Mel for owner Al Libfeld.

These two will have to contend with Sans Defaut, who won her second straight Sire Stakes start and matched the 1:55 clocking of Queen Of The Hill. The other Ron Burke trainee to win in this PASS class on the card, the daughter of Muscle Hill and Flawless Lady moved past a :28.2 quarter for driver Matt Kakaley and put up mid-race splits of :57.4 and 1:26.1 before defeating Solsbury Hill by 2-1/2 lengths. Also a winner in Pennsylvania All-Stars competition, Sans Defaut is owned by the Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Crawford Farms Racing and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.

Pennsylvania-sired 2-year-old trotting fillies will have their final preliminaries next week at The Meadows.

Eric Irving, who has driven only sporadically in recent years, recorded his first driving victory since Jan. 24, 2009, when he won with Rhyme N Roll by a nose and returned $65.80 to win.