CHESTER PA – A trio of three-year-old 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.
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.