CHESTER PA – In the fourth and final preliminary round for the Pennsylvania Stallion Series two-year-old pacing fillies Wednsday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, Aplomp Hanover and Arden Hanover both visited the StS Victory Lane for the third time – after both of them finished second to the other in the one prelim they did not win.
First to parade back was the Artspeak – A Pippin Hanover miss Aplomp Hanover, already a five-time winner on the campaign, with an Arden Downs division victory on her resume as well. In Wednesday’s contest, Aplomp Hanover went to the lead in front of the stands for the first time and held the advantage from there, withstanding the inside charge of Love For Sail by a neck in 1:54.4. Allan Davis drove the consistent filly for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick.
The Party’s Rockin looked on her way to join “Aplomp” and ”Arden” as three-time StS winners, but the favorite made a break while on the lead nearing headstretch. Real Long Hanover (dam Rockin Everyway) proved to have the best late rally, outfooting Anthem by 1¼ lengths in 1:55 to take her second Stallion Series win in succession. George Napolitano Jr. drove the winner for trainer Tony Alagna and Alagna Racing LLC, Marvin Katz, and Riverview Racing LLC.
The final division had no multiple winners, but it proved to be the fastest of the four, and its winner, Culture Shock, won by the largest margin, 3¼ lengths. Anthony Morgan sent the filly to the front before the half and went on to win over closer Speaking Of Coffee in 1:54.2, the faster victory for the filly who is now undefeated after two starts. Joe Holloway trains Culture Shock (dam Sawyer) for Brittany Farms LLC and Val D’Or Farms.
The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission is the official tallier of the points earned in the Stallion Series and the Sire Stakes, but a quick, unofficial calculation performed after the last race revealed the following nine horses with the most points: 1. (tie) Aplomp Hanover and Arden Hanover; 3. The Party’s Rockin; 4. Real Long Hanover; 5. Shotgun Persuasion; 6. Speaking Of Coffee; 7. Keystone Eureka; 8. Sweet Camille; 9. Alexis’s Beach. Each Stallion Series division will have its $40,000 Championship at Pocono on Monday, September 9.