from the PHHA /Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — On Friday afternoon (Aug. 24) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, both Warrawee Ubeaut and Treacherous Reign performed as expected in their final round preliminary of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies, both winning in 1:51.3.
The duo should have people looking forward to their $252,000 PASS final battle at The Meadows on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 1).
Treacherous Reign was up first, and she showed gameness in her victory. The 50-1 shot Stonebridge Soul went right out to the top despite the outside post eight, having the lead to the :27.2 quarter before Andrew McCarthy moved Treacherous Reign to the lead well before the :56.1 half. The victorious daughter of Captaintreacherous–Scandalous Hanover was able to hold first-over She’s Allright at bay through and past a 1:23.2 three-quarters, but there was one more battle — to her left — to be won.
The longshot Stonebridge Soul had never disengaged after surrendering the lead early, and in fact she was clawing back at the winner inch by inch through the lane. But Treacherous Reign downed her game rival by a neck to go three-for-three in her Sires prelims, including an upset of Warrawee Ubeaut in her previous start, and the winner of four of five lifetime starts may be peaking at an opportune time for trainer Tony Alagna and the ownership of Alagna Racing, Big Als Stables, Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Mr. Dana Parham.
The connections on Warrawee Ubeaut have said they looked forward to the time when she could “race off of a helmet” and not have to move to the lead early because of her credentials and overwhelming support. In this race driver Yannick Gingras showed no thought of starting quickly with the daughter of Sweet Lou–Great Memories, settling fifth early in a :26.3 initial panel. At the :55.4 half she was given her cue to go, and go she did, with a :26.4 individual third quarter carrying her right up to the lead, and she widened her advantage to 3-3/4 lengths at the wire while reducing her mark.
After starting her career with three wins including two in Sires competition, Warrawee Ubeaut went a faster pace than she ever had in her last race, and Treacherous Reign caught her on the money by a half-length. But Warrawee Ubeaut, now also four-for-five in her career, showed no ill effects from the defeat here today for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable, Phil Collura, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi.
The Harness Bureau of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission is the official keeper of PA-sired competition points, but an unofficial tally of the standings after the races yielded these horses as the leading point-winners: 1. Warrawee Ubeaut, 2. Treacherous Reign, 3. Rockin Philly, 4. Bestseller Hanover, 5. Sylph Hanover, 6. She’s Allright, 7. (tie) Stonebridge Soul and Sweeter Lulu, 9. Sweet Chrome, 10. Art Lecture. Like Warrawee Ubeaut, Sylph Hanover and She’s Allright are part of the Burke Brigade.