As we flip the calendar to a new year, memories of racing’s most exciting moments are still fresh on our mind. From both the harness and thoroughbred tracks, from the East side of the state to the West, it was non-stop stakes action, introducing new talent, and showcasing the biggest names in racing.
Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania kicked off an action-packed season with the Game of Claims Series, followed by the Bobby Weiss Series. In the $50,000 finals for the Weiss Series, Allegra Hanover took the crown in the pacing fillies division, while Karinchak equaled the fastest trotting mile of the year at Pocono in the final for trotting colts and geldings, with a 1:53.2 finish.
Charge Me Up clocked a lifetime best of 1:51.3 to take the final for male pacers, and in the trotting fillies division, it was Halfadozen in a sweep of all 3 preliminaries and the final to kick off her season undefeated in all 4 starts.
Fans were eager for the warmer weather and the official start of summer, along with lightning fast racing, and Super Sunday over Memorial Day weekend at Harrah’s Philadelphia did the trick.
Twin B Joe Fresh romped in her seasonal debut with a win, her second consecutive, in the $100,000 Grade 3 Betsy Ross Invitational. In the $100,000 Grade 3 Joseph Auger Memorial for older pacers, Bythemissal held off a late charge from Spring Inhis Step A to a 1:49 win.
Aetos Kronos S won over rival Sir Pinocchio in the $100,000 Grade 3 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational for older trotters to round out the stellar stakes day.
Chris Gooden photo
Constant rainy conditions kept throwing a monkey wrench into Penn National Race Course’s biggest night, Penn Mile night, which was originally scheduled for May 30.
Finally! After being rescheduled twice, the $400,000 Penn Mile ran on Friday, June 27 in a light rain over a turf course listed as ‘yielding’. The field of eight was scratched down to five. Dream On sprung an upset win over stablemate and even money favorite Mi Bago.
In the $150,000 Penn Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, Laurelin remained undefeated in four career starts with a 1 1/4-length victory. Two other super stakes were held that night. The $75,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap on the turf was run, with Fierce and Strong taking the lead from the start, then up for the close win, holding off a fast-charging Dylan’s Ruby.
Top Pennsylvania bred fillies and mares, aged three and up, were in the spotlight in the $75,000 Lyphard Stakes. Corinna charged through on the rail for the impressive win.
The scorching July sun was shining brightly on the superstars on Delvin Miller Adios Day at the Meadows. Fans anticipating a showdown between Prince Hal Hanover and Twisted Destiny got their money’s worth. Prince Hal Hanover got his revenge from his elimination loss to ‘Twisted’ with a 1:48.1 head victory, this time over the late closing Swingtown.
Two divisions of the Mickey Burke Adioo Volo delivered thrills right up to the finish. In the first, it was Allegra Hanover in a long first-over grind in 1:50.2. In almost the same fashion, the second division of the famed race for fillies saw Time Of The Season come first over to snag her spot in the Winner’s Circle.
August brought no break from the summer sun and sweltering temps, but fans didn’t seem to mind as they flocked to catch the tremendous Sun Stakes Saturday card at Pocono Downs.
In a scorching performance, Super Chapter
It was all Dandy Ideal in 1:48.2 in the $416,667 Max C. Hempt Memorial for three-year-old male pacers in 1:48.2, and his fifth straight win.
Yo Tillie trotted strongly to win her sixth race in an undefeated season by taking the $347,222 Delmonica Hanover for three-year-old trotting fillies in a stakes-and track-record of 1:51.2.
The first long-awaited rivalry between Miki And Minnie and Chantilly went to Miki And Minnie in the $347,222 James M. Lynch Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers in 1:49.1 in a thriller that had fans gasping as they hit the finish line.
Saluting the great Sebastian K, the Invitational for older trotters was won by Warrawee Michelle in 1:50, becoming the fastest four-year-old trotter ever on a five-eighths-mile track. Trainer Ake Svanstedt claimed his third consecutive victory in the event named after his former star.
Captain Albano and driver Todd McCarthy went to the front and never looked back, winning the $138,889 Always B Miki Invitational over Coaches Corner in 1:48.2.
Throughout the season, divisions of the PA Sire Stakes for the two-year-old stars of tomorrow were held at Pocono Downs; Harrah’s Philadelphia; and the Meadows, culminating in a knock ‘em dead finals card at Harrah’s Philadelphia on September 5th. Fans witnessed the fastest mile ever for a freshman on a five-eighth mile track, with Frantic Hanover clocking a 1:49.1 win over Al Papi.
It was a thriller in the pacing fillies final, as Say Goodnight finished in a brilliant five-across finish to win her Sire Stakes Championship in 1:52.1, paying $135.60, second-highest win payoff of the local season.
Ginger Tree Lex swept all four prelims, and then came roaring back with a dominant win in the finals for trotting fillies in 1:53.4, a Sire Stakes Divisional Record.
In the trotting colts and geldings final, Dublin Hanover posted a 12-1 upset for Team Svanstedt.
PA’s Day at the Races at Parx Racing on September 19th celebrated the Pennsylvania breds, with 11 races dedicated to those horses bred in Pennsylvania.
Ninetyprcentmaddie grabbed the win in the $100,000 Storm Cat Stakes. The added distance and blinkers helped the gelding snap his losing streak.
In the $100,000 Imply Stakes, it was a dominant 5 1/4 length win by Carousel Queen.
In a nail-biter, Beyondexpectations
September 19 was a busy day for horse racing, as Presque Isle Downs featured their massive stakes-laden card featuring the marquee event, the Presque Isle Mile. Favorite Encino was on fire, leaving the field in the dust to a 1 3/4-length win. In the $301,000 Masters Stakes, 12 fillies and mares were entered in the prestigious race, with Gal in a Rush skimming the rail to the win by a length.
The 2-year-old stars of tomorrow were also spotlighted in two $100,000 stakes. Live Stream sprung an upset in the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial, and Smooch Up won by a small margin in the Presque Isle Debutante. Jockey Martina Rojas scored her first stakes win, piloting Live Stream for her father, trainer Murray Rojas.
When the gates opened at Parx early on Pennsylvania Derby Day, September 20, fans poured onto the apron and backyard area to witness the thrills synonymous with this electric day. It was another record crowd at Parx that witnessed the triumphant win of 3-year-old star Baeza’s 2 1/4 length win in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. The card drew the second highest handle in track history.
Clicquot defeated three of the division’s top 3-year-old fillies in an impressive win in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes. It was her first Grade 1 win.
Heavy favorite Barnes finished off the board in the Gallant Bob Stakes, racing last then finishing fourth, and Mad House shipped in from Minnesota to spring the upset and Gateskeeper second, with the payoff numbers lighting up the tote board like a Christmas tree. Mystic Lake won the Liberty Bell, marking her fourth straight win.
In the Parx Dirt Mile, Nelson Avenue squeezed in between horses, finding his stride late to win by a half-length, and No Bien Ni Mai picked up his first graded stakes win in his second North American start in the Greenwood Cup.
Pennsylvania fairs bring exciting rides; sweet treats like cotton candy and candy apples; lots of exhibits…and harness racing! Pennsylvania Fair harness racing kicked off in June at the Butler Fair, and wrapped up in October. The finals were held on October 13 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Lionheart Hanover became only the second Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes horse to win his regular-season points title and his Championship race at both two and three, with his victory in one of eight $25,000 Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championships over a “sloppy” track.
Milagro, who this year had 12 wins, added the championship final to her already impressive resume.
Others celebrating a win that day included Compensate Me in 1:54.1; and Shalamar Hanover in the sophomore filly trot. The freshman pacing colts were topped by Papi Hour, lowering his mark to 1:56.2.
The two-year-old pacing fillies were handled by Dancin Sweet Heart, with a strong move down the backstretch to the lead, holding off heavy favorite Vegas Queen.
Pa Patricia surged into freshman filly trot Championship with nine fair victories, including seven straight. In the freshman colt and gelding trot, it was Green Shades in 2:01.4.
On October 21, the newest inductions into the Parx Racing Hall of Fame were announced, with Cash is King, LLC receiving the honor in the owners’ category, and the champion Pennsylvania bred gelding Favorite Tale the newest equine superstar inducted. On the track, Point Dume ran away with the $75,000 M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile Stakes.
In early November, three divisions of the Liberty Bell Stakes were held at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and Prince Hal Hanover and Twisted Destiny returned to each take the win in their division. Twisted Destiny’s 1:51.1 was the fastest of all three divisions. The third winner was Beach Club Monty in 1:52.4.
While everyone was getting ready for their Thanksgiving feast, Parx was dishing up sizzling stakes action on November 26. Divine Intentions won the $100,000 Shamrock Rose going 6 furlongs for PA Bred 2-year-old fillies. In the $75,000 Turkey Trot, Call Me Fast was faster than ‘em all for the win, and Alani took the $75,000 Cornucopia Stakes. Wrapping up the buffet of stakes action, Mailata won the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes for PA bred 2-year-olds.
On November 28, a very different (but just as competitive) field hit the racetrack at Parx, as the jockey colony competed in a jockey foot race to raise awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Wilfred Vasquez narrowly won the photo finish, while Adam Bowman and Mychel Sanchez clipped heels, truly making it a race to go down in history.
While the equine superstars ruled on the track, their equally stellar jockeys, trainers, and drivers dominated as well, making their mark in the record books. In April, trainer Butch Reid celebrated 1000 career wins with the milestone win happening at Parx.
Mychel J. Sanchez, topping the jockey standings at Parx, is hoping to reach his personal milestone goal of 300 wins this season. As of press, his total wins for the year were at 290!
And Pennsylvania’s favorite champion,the inimitable Smarty Jones, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on August 1. The ceremony took place in Saratoga Springs, New York, and Smarty was elected in his first year on the ballot. He’s only the fourth Pennsylvania bred thoroughbred to receive this honor.
While some tracks take a brief hiatus during those frigid winter months, (Pocono; Presque Isle), the Meadows and Harrah’s Philadelphia continue through the rest of the year. Parx also races through the end of the year, and Penn National wrapped up on December 19, returning in January.
Choco Charlie wins Pocono series final – U.S. Trotting News
https://ustrottingnews.com/
World Records Broken On Sun Stakes Saturday | Standardbred Canada
https://ustrottingnews.com/
He’s back! Bythemissal best in Auger Memorial – U.S. Trotting News
https://ustrottingnews.com/
Thoroughbred News, Sire Lists, Blogs, Video, Pedigree Analysis, Special Reports – BloodHorse
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Prince Hal takes the 2025 Adios – The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
Dream On Upsets Casse Stablemate to Win Penn Mile – BloodHorse
Baeza Impresses in Pennsylvania Derby Victory – BloodHorse
Pop the Champagne: Clicquot Victorious in Cotillion – BloodHorse
Distance change and blinkers wake up Storm Cat winner Ninetyprcentmaddie
Mad House Pulls Gallant Bob Upset to Extend Win Streak – BloodHorse
Smarty Jones Among Seven in 2025 Hall of Fame Class – BloodHorse
Parx Hall of Fame | Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association
