by Jerry Connors, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Chester, PA — Defending pacing filly champion Somwherovrarainbow got her first 2013 victory on Thursday (May 16) in a division of a $247,472 Pennsylvania Sire Stake, but it was no easy walk down the Yellow Brick Road to Victory Lane at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Driver Montrell Teague (one race after he guided home a $99.80 winner) had to be alert early to get around major interference from a breaking pocketsitter UF Dragon’s Queen, but after avoiding most of that trouble, he moved the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere to the lead just past the half.

Offintothesunset, also bothered early, gave the winner a tough fight around the final turn and through the lane, but Somwherovrarainbow proved to be a half-length better on the money, halting the clock at 1:52.1 for trainer George Teague Jr., K&R Racing LLC (these two the breeders of the filly) and Ted Gewertz.

Fastest of the four winners was the Dragon Again filly Charisma Hanover, an offseason acquisition by Ron Burke-Weaver Bruscemi who is now 4-4 in 2013 after tallying in 1:51.4 for driver Yannick Gingras.

Also returning to the winner’s circle were the pocketsitting Real Artist filly Live Entertainment, who outsprinted pacesetting Champagne Tonight to the wire in 1:52.1 for Gingras, trainer Jimmy Takter, and owners Christina Takter (also the breeder) and John Fielding, and Nikki Beach, a Somebeachsomewhere miss who threw identical :27.4 back half splits on the lead to complete a 1:52.2 package for driver Ron Pierce, trainer Tony Alagna and owner Brittany Farms.

The latter two will, of course, be again in the PaSS spotlight Sunday as defending Pacer of the Year Captaintreacherous makes his 2013 bow in a Sire Stakes event at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

2012 Hambletonian favorite Uncle Peter showed he may be coming to top 2013 form by surviving a :55.3 back half trotted raw to take a $30,000 handicap trot in 1:53.3. David Miller drove the son of Cantab Hall for trainer Takter, and the ownership team of Christina Takter, Brixton Medical AB, John and Jim Fielding, and Goran Falk.