Take All Comers authored a powerful 1:53.2 victory in his third-round Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Wednesday afternoon (June 23) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, while an early break in stride by 2020 divisional champion and heavy favourite Captain Corey entirely changed the complexion of the race.
With the more powerful half of the 1-20 Åke Svanstedt entry out of contention, stablemate Fly Light went to the top from post seven, passing 18-1 shot Take All Comers before posting fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.1. But midway around the final turn, driver David Miller gave the signal to Take All Comers, an altered son of Creatine and Nantab — and thus a half-brother to Next Level Stuff — and he quickly took over, winning by 3-1/4 lengths over Goodashim, who rallied inside to catch Fly Light by a neck.
Take All Comers, trained by Jim Campbell for Runthetable Stables, won for the third time in his career and increased his bankroll to $219,937.
The Svanstedt barn did take the other Sire Stakes division: Delayed Hanover, who was guided by Åke Svanstedt to the lead in :27.2, put up creaking middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.1, then sprinted home in :27.4 to complete a 1:55 mile, a half length better than the pocket-sitting favourite Jujubee, who just edged first-over Type A for second. The win made Delayed Hanover the only two-time PASS winner in his division. Also winning for the third time in his career, Delayed Hanover, part of a favoured Svanstedt entry, has bankrolled $198,630 for Mellby Gard Inc. and Åke Svanstedt Inc.
David Miller, who led all drivers with five wins on the program, scored a Stallion Series double, winning with 11-1 shot Ritson (1:54.1) and favoured Caruso (1:55). Sunny Crockett (1:54.3, Andy Miller), Flemsteen (1:54.3, George Napolitano Jr.) and Donato Patriot K (1:56.4, Tony Hall) took the other divisions.
A trio of two-year-old pacers established marks in their pari-mutuel debuts on the undercard: the Betting Line-Sportsfancy filly Jazzed (1:53.4, Andy Miller), the Sportswriter-Planet Ocean gelding Camealongway (1:54.2, David Miller) and the Sweet Lou-Breakheart Pass colt Birthday (1:55.2, Yannick Gingras).
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)