WILKES-BARRE PA – It may not be the optimal way to get tight – making two moves in a Sire Stakes race against Valley Forge harness racing winner Darlinonthebeach – but the McArdle filly Lispatty was certainly ready in her next start, the $15,500 featured distaff pace on Tuesday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, quarter-moving to the lead and then winning by five lengths in 1:50, knocking over two seconds off her lifetime mark.
Envious Hanover and Single Me were a distant next-closest at the wire to Lispatty, who was driven by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, who was completing a training double, with his winning chargers driven by different Napolitano brothers – George had guided the early winner. Lispatty, who has an outside chance to make her Sire Stakes final and a very good chance to make her Sires consolation, is owned by Garcia-Herrera's son Gilbert Garcia-Owen, who got his trainer's license recently and is doing well guiding the fortunes of the Garcia-Herrera string at Philadelphia.
The 1:50 clocking of Lispatty was bettered in a $14,000 conditioned pace for females, as Gallie Bythe Beach posted her second straight victory, with her Tuesday time of 1:49.1 just a tick off her lifetime mark. Mike Simons moved the impeccably-bred (Somebeachsomewhere-Galleria) mare to the lead past the quarter, and Gallie Bythe Beach took it from there, storming home in 54.2 to win by six lengths for trainer John Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC, who saw their mare come within an eyelash of the $750,000 career earnings plateau ($749,898 is now her actual number).
PHHA / Pocono