Delaware River repeats at Philly Park

On a day when a pair of two-time defending champions and a graded stakes winner all failed, Delaware River delivered.

The 7-year-old gelding Delaware River ($6) gave jockey Frankie Pennington his third stakes win on the card when he cruised by 8 3/4 lengths to capture the $125,000 Smarty Jones Classic for the second straight year Saturday at Philadelphia Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones was the richest of eight stakes for statebreds on what was billed as Pennsylvania's Day at the Races.

Delaware River's task was made easier when Capitano, who defeated him by three-quarters of a length in last month's $75,000 Ligature at Penn National, was an early scratch.

Disco T, the 7-5 favorite, lost a head bob to Morethanclever for second.

Trained by the Bowie-based William Campbell, Delaware River is now 15 for 53 with earnings of $522,382. He completed the distance on a fast track in 1:42.96.

Pennington and Campbell also teamed up to win the $100,000, one-mile Peppy Addy for 3-year-olds with Dynamic Dan ($8.20).

Pennington also guided Miss Tye Dye ($4) to her third straight stakes victory in the $100,000 Northern Fling Handicap for fillies and mares.

In the day's best event for female sprinters, Jet Away Jane ($5.40) split rivals in midstretch and pulled away to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Ambassador of Luck Handicap.

Hailie's Girl outgamed fading pacesetter Control System for second. Control System, winner of the Grade 3 Cicada last year and second in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie early this season, was sent off the 4-5 favorite in making her first start since March.

S W Aly'svalentine, the winner of the last two runnings of the Ambassador of Luck, finished a dull fifth at 12-1.

Another two-time defending champion, Banjo Picker, finished third in a four-horse field as the 3-5 favorite in the $100,000 Devil's Honor Handicap. Delaware shipper Joey Carson ($6.40) came from off the pace to win by 2 1/4 lengths under Jose Caraballo.

Favorites prevailed in the two $100,000 stakes contested on turf, with Remain Silent ($4) nosing out 7-1 Mathewlovstoparty in the five-furlong Mr. Jenney Handicap and Royal Pleasure ($4.80) scoring by three-quarters of a length in the 1 1/16-mile Mrs. Penny for fillies and mares.- Joe DeVivo