Thebeachiscalling and Always B First took top billing in Wednesday's (May 19) Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies at Harrah's Philadelphia with matching 1:50 miles, while Continualou won the remaining division.
Thebeachiscalling, who had earned $161,196 without winning in the first 10 starts of her career, built on a winning effort last week to take her $50,645 Sire Stakes event in a new mark for Bella Racing Ltd and trainer Chris Ryder. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere led early before being overpowered by Grace Hill and favourite Blue Diamond Eyes past the :26.4 quarter. Blue Diamond Eyes carried on through fast :54.1 and 1:21.4 middle splits before Andy McCarthy angled outside to challenge on the far turn. Thebeachiscalling moved powerfully on the turn into contention and pushed to the lead in upper stretch. Mikala rallied for second, a neck behind, and Blue Diamond Eyes finished third.
In the $50,645 third section, Always B First angled off the pegs past a :27.1 quarter to make the lead well before a :55 half, and then passed three-quarters in 1:22.3. From there, the Always B Miki filly withstood a late challenge from favourite Marsala Hanover by a length in line to Tim Tetrick. Robert Cleary trains the winner of four of her last five races for Oompa's Farm Inc., Robert Mondillo, Craig Henderson and Allen Wenc.
The $50,245 second division saw Continualou make a victorious return to the races after winning the Matron last November. David Miller went to the top with the Sweet Lou filly and controlled fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:23.3, before fending off the uncovered move of favourite JK Alwaysbalady by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. Ron Burke trains for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Seven Stallion Series divisions served as supporting events on the program. Filly Speaks (1:52, Dexter Dunn), Podium Girl (1:51.1, Dunn), Tonianne (1:52.4, Andy Miller), So Miki Hanover (1:52.1, Andy Miller), Classicist (1:52.2, Dunn), Chase Lounge (1:51, David Miller) and Staycation Hanover (1:51.3, Todd McCarthy) won their respective $20,000 events.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)