Harrah's Philadelphia: Asiago swiftest in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for sophmore filly trotters

Asiago, making her first career appearance in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program, turned in a 1:54 mile to lead the way in four divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Driven by Yannick Gingras in the second $42,601 split, Asiago led the way through fractions of 27 3/5, 57, and 1:24 3/5, then drew off in the final quarter to defeat Matter Of Fact (Tim Tetrick) by four lengths. Fade Into You (Matt Kakaley) finished third.

A daughter of Muscle Hill, Asiago is trained by Per Engblom for owners Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, Al Libfeld, and Black Horse Racing. This was her third career win, and she has now put away $132,634. She was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.10 to win.

Gingras also won the next $42,201 flight with Sonnet Grace, last year's Goldsmith Maid winner. She clicked off a 27 4/5 first quarter, a 57-second half, and a 1:25 three-quarters, then just found the wire in time to win by a nose over pocket-sitter Personal Paradise (Ake Svanstedt) in a 1:55 effort. Southwind Casha (Tetrick) rallied for third.

Ron Burke trains the victorious daughter of Muscle Massive for Sonnet Grace Stable. She is now an eight-time winner in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to $423,697. The 4-5 favorite, she returned $3.80 to win.

Back in the first $42,601 section, Millies Possesion (Dexter Dunn) parked nearly to the 57 2/5 half to get command, but once she did, she stepped through three-quarters in 1:25 3/5 before she kicked away impressively through the stretch drive to score by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:54 4/5. Jezzys Legacy (Mark MacDonald) and Grimmie Hanover (Tetrick) followed her under the wire.

Millies Possesion is a Possess The Will filly trained by Jim Campbell for owner/breeder Fashion Farms LLC. Unraced as a rookie, she has won both her attempts in 2019, and she has earned $27,300. She was the even-money choice and paid $4.20 to win.

In the last $42,601 sire stakes test, Hallintheclouds (Svanstedt) worked into the lead at the 28 1/5 opening quarter, but she would be shuffled back to third by the time they got to the 57 2/5 half as Firedbylindie (Kakaley) and Magical Beliefs worked their way around her. Svanstedt made a second move with Hallintheclouds past the half, and she would join Magical Beliefs on the lead at the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters. That duel continued around the final bend as well, but Hallintheclouds kicked past in the lane, then trotted clear, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:55 4/5 at odds of 49-1. Firedbylindie wound up second and Mimi`spearloflindy (Mattias Melander) collected third.

Svanstedt also trains and co-owns Hallintheclouds, a Cantab Hall filly, with breeder Little E LLC. and their partners Fayette AB and Gabriella`s LLC. Hallintheclouds broke her maiden in her eighth opportunity, and she has now banked $23,250. She returned $100.80 to win.