CHESTER PA – Allywag Hanover and Captain Groovy, both three-year-old pacing colts who have already won in 1:48 in this shortened season of primetime racing, are among five fields racing after $39,432 each in their first preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia. There will also be six $20,000 divisions of the companion Pennsylvania Stallion Series action.
The Captaintreacherous colt Allywag Hanover did in fact enter for the elimination races for the Meadowlands Pace, which were to have been conducted this Saturday. But when only twelve colts dropped in for that event, the conditions of the race called for “byes” to be offered to the top seasonal moneywinners, with two going directly to the rich July 18 event and the other ten racing there this week, with the top eight coming back for the Pace final. Allywag Hanover was second in seasonal earnings and opted out to come to Philly, as did Chief Mate, who was third in 2020 earnings.
Captain Groovy, also a son of Captaintreacherous, posted his 1:48 victory 20 days ago at the Jersey mile track, rushing home in :26. Not kept eligible for the Meadowlands Pace, Captain Groovy is slated to be driven by Mark MacDonald from the middle of the twelfth race field of seven for trainer Ray Schnittker, who is also a co-owner with Ted Gewertz, Howard Taylor, and Mary Kinsey Arnold.
Also drawing post four for his tenth race Sires event is Chief Mate, who has won in 1:50.2 here and 1:50 at Pocono in an undefeated campaign. Yet another son of top sire Captaintreacherous, George Napolitano Jr. has been tapped to drive the developing pacer for trainer Tony Alagna and the ownership of Brittany Farms LLC, Marvin Katz, Brad Grant, and Captain Kirk Racing.
The two fastest 2020 winners in the seventh race Sires division have drawn the outside posts six and seven, respectively: the Somebeachsomewhere colt Enough Sun (1:51 at The Meadows), with David Miller getting the early call from trainer Brian Brown, and the Captaintreacherous gelding The Greek Freak (1:50.3 at Pocono), slated to have Matt Kakaley in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke.
The eleventh race division may be the most wide-open of the five Sire Stakes contests. Fastest seasonal winner in that section is the Well Said colt Lyons Skipper, moving into the Jim King Jr. barn after a 1:52.2 win at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with Tim Tetrick listed to drive from post four.