CHESTER, PA – Two-year-old fillies on both gaits contested three $30,000 divisions of the Liberty Bell stakes series on Thursday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, with the favorites winning all of the trots and none of the paces.
George Brennan guided two of the trio of trotting winners. First up was the Donato Hanover- Glide About miss American Kosmos, who raised her career record to three-for-four while reducing her mark to 1:55.3.
The winner, sent off the 6-5 chalk, sat far off the runaway pacesetter Scirocco Donnahill, then gradually reeled that one in for a 3¾ length tally for trainer Julie Miller and the ownership of Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld, and David Goodrow.
The other two triumphant trotters proved worthy of 1-5 favoritism, including Brennan's second winner Magical Beliefs, who lowered her mark to 1:56.4. The daughter of Cantab Hall – Frisky Magic trotted past the leading Sigilwig past the half, opened a big lead, then maintained a 2½ length margin on the shuffled closer Mimi'spearloflindy, giving her four wins and four seconds in eight career starts, with earnings of $166,686 (she was second in the PA Sires final).
Linda Toscano conditioned the consistent miss for Highland Green Farms, South Mountain Stables, and R-And-I Farms LLC.
First visitor to the Harrah's winners circle on Thursday was the six-time winner Sonnet Grace, whom owner/trainer/driver Rod Allen sent to the front and improved on her position from there, winning by 4½ lengths in 1:55.1, last half 57.1, for a personal best.
The impeccably-bred daughter of Muscle Massive – I Believe, a granddaughter of synonymous-with-baby-trot-speed CR Kay Suzie, now has earnings totaling $125,397.
Form took a holiday of the pacing side, with the biggest upset A Beach Cowgirl, whom Corey Callahan piloted to a 1:53.4 lifetime best while paying $83.20.
The Somebeachsomewhere – Limestone Cowgirl miss took advantage of a pocket journey, withstanding closing Renaissance Lady K by ¾ of a length for trainer Brett Bittle, co-owner with Dan Bittle and the Charles Kellers, III and IV.
Somebeachsomewhere sired a second surprise winner – a surprise to most everyone but the morning linemaker, who had tabbed Stonebridge Soul, whose dam is Rock N Soul, as the one to beat, then saw her generate a $13.40 win payoff after a two length wire-to-wire win while taking a new mark of 1:52.2.
If ever an early favorite were to be overlooked, it might have been this race at this track, as Philly Hanover and Rockin Philly wound up the first two choices, but Stonebridge Soul proved the best for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Chris Ryder, and the ownership of Henderson Farms and Robert Mondillo.
Down Under wonder Dexter Dunn, fitting very nicely in the tough local driving colony, was behind the third pacing winner, the Captaintreacherous – Musicale Hanover filly May Bride Hanover, who won in 1:53.1.
Dunn let the winner roll on the engine in quick numbers, then kept her together in the lane to win by a neck over What A Fox in a finish that saw all six fillies within two lengths of each other at the wire (Trillions Hanover, the big favorite, broke early but recovered for fourth). Nifty Norman trains the winner of four-of-seven for the Pinske Stables and David Hoese.
Liberty Bell series two-year-old action continues tomorrow at Philly, with the colts turning out in the same proportions as their filly counterparts, with three divisions of each gait going gateward.
From the PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia