First-time starter Michelons Filly stalked the leader from the pocket, then poured through the Lightning Lane to score in 1:54.4, fastest win in Thursday’s $60,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows.
The event for freshman filly pacers was contested over three divisions, with Margret Hill and Another Beach Day taking the other splits to give Dave Palone a stake double among his four victories on the 13-race card.
Mami Hanover led her field into the final turn, but when the walls started to close in, Michelons Filly had the shortest route to the finish line, edging Typhoon by a neck. Ponder Time earned show.
“She had a lot of go today, and she’s pretty handy,” said winning driver Marcus Miller. “I think that’s her greatest strength. She’s very versatile. That will help as we go through the season and the races go a little faster.”
Erv Miller trains the daughter of Captaintreacherous-New Album for Ronald Michelon and Michael Anderson.
Margret Hill wasn’t the stake’s swiftest winner, but she was the most visually compelling. She spotted the 1-2 favourite, More More More, six lengths before overtaking her with a quick and determined uncovered move and downing her by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3. Journey Of Love completed the ticket.
“She was green,” Palone said of the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Sarandon Blue Chip. “She had a good turn of foot, and I like the way she passed the favourite. She’ll learn.”
Brian Brown conditions Margret Hill for owner/breeder Tom Hill.
Another Beach Day wasn’t on the lead at any point in her two qualifiers, but Palone put her there in her career debut. She held off the rallying Alii Nui by a head in 1:55, with Sure R Lookin Good third.
“She came advertised as a good filly, but she was completely lost on the lead,” Palone said. “Every time I got her attention, she swelled up for me. I think she’ll be better than a stallion series filly.”
Mike Hall trains the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Another Delight and owns with David Hamm, CTC Stable and Howard Taylor.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Saturday, when the program features the Sand Tart, a $182,962 PA Sires Stake for two-year-old filly pacers. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)