CHESTER, PA – A trio of three-year-old harness racing trotting fillies, already dropped in to go in next Wednesday's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action here at Harrah's Philadelphia, got nice warm-ups six days in advance Thursday at the southeast Pennsylvania oval, with two winning and the other a bang-up second in mixed company overnights.
Next Level Stuff won the day's $13,600 feature in 1:54 for driver Tim Tetrick. A daughter of Sebastian K, Next Level Stuff was spotted third early, and when his filly's most dangerous opponent, Bully Boy, made a break before the half, Tetrick could wait until late on the backstretch until starting forward to try to gain the lead.
Grapple Hanover put up a brave showing on the front end, but Next Level Stuff was able to wear him down by a length, making her 2-for-2 this season and 8-for-12 lifetime. Jim Campbell trains the winner of $179,055 for the Runthetable Stables.
The Donato Hanover miss Creature Of Habit also got help from miscuing opposition in lowering her mark to 1:54.2 earlier on the card. In fact, four different horses who were first or second at the time made a break during the race; the last one, Ava Kathryn, had a four-length lead at headstretch, but she tired and succumbed to the late onslaught of Creature Of Habit. Dexter Dunn was in the sulky for trainer Nifty Norman and the partnership of Melvin Hartman, David McDuffee, and Diamond Creek Racing.
Another well-regarded Sire Stakes entrant, last year's $300G+ winner Sherry Lyns Lady, was a very solid second to the developing Captain Krupnik in a 1:54.2 mile. Sherry Lyns Lady, in her seasonal bow, tucked from the outside post eight, then came uncovered as Captain Krupnik, a son of Conway Hall, got a :30 panel two breather to a :58.2 half for driver Dexter Dunn. The filly steadily trotted to "the Captain" for pilot Tim Tetrick but came up 1¼ lengths short as Captain Krupnik has now won three of his last four starts for trainer Jenny Melander and Belmar Racing And Breeding LLC.
From the PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia