Harrah's Philadelphia: Beach Cowgirl's world record headlines PA Sire Stakes Championships

Beach Cowgirl remained undefeated this year and did so in world record fashion, lowering the standard for a 2-year-old pacing filly on a five-eighths-mile track to 1:50 in winning her $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship on Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Driven by Joe Bongiorno, Beach Cowgirl went to the point from post one, carved out fractions of 26 3/5, 55 1/5, and 1:22 4/5, and drew off in a 27 1/5 final quarter, defeating My Little Captain (David Miller) by 6 3/4 lengths. Proud Mary (Dexter Dunn) was third.

The world record had been 1:50 1/5 set by Allstar Rating in a Breeders Crown elimination at Pocono on October 11, 2013.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous-Stonebridge Sundae bred by Crawford Farms, Beach Cowgirl is trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owners Joseph Di Scala Jr. Zippett Racing Stable, Scarlett Stables LLC., and JAF Racing LLC. Beach Cowgirl, who sold for $60,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has won all four her starts, pushed her earnings to $208,278, and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Bond (Ake Svanstedt) also turned in a front-stepping victory in the filly trot, scoring in 1:54 3/5. Bond put up panels of 28 1/5 and 58 4/5, then came under heavy pressure from a first-over Fashion Annie (Tim Tetrick) racing to the 1:27 three-quarters. Bond was able to repel Fashion Annie's bid on the last turn and then kicked away to prevail by four lengths. Fashion Annie was second, followed by Cando Volo (Corey Callahan).

The victorious Southwind Frank-Boccone Dolce filly was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and is also trained and co-owned by Svanstedt in partnership with Little E LLC. and L Berg Inc. An $80,000 Lexington buy, Bond has a record of 4-2-0 from six appearances, has banked $218,784, and returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 choice.

The colt and gelding trot saw Crantini (Yannick Gingras) move to the top past the 27 3/5 quarter and then keep command through a 57 2/5 half, a 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, and into the lane. Crantini dug in gamely through the drive, but Once In A Lifetime (Tetrick), who went first-up out of fourth before the half and made his way into second on the outside on the final bend, wore Crantini down in the late stages and won by half a length in a track reocrd 1:54 2/5. Designer Drink (Dexter Dunn) checked in third.

Jim Campbell trains Once In A Lifetime, a Father Patrick-Sherrys Lady colt bred by Coyote Wynd Farms, for owner Sad Frog Farms. Once In A Lifetime, acquired for $50,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has four wins and a second from seven efforts, has put away $226,219, and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

In the colt and gelding pace, Fulton (Dunn) brushed to the engine racing to the 54 1/5 half-mile station and then left a two-wide Annapolis Hanover (Tetrick) on the outside. Fulton dispatched Annapolis Hanover prior to the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters and couldn't be caught after that, tallying by four lengths in 1:51 3/5. Annapolis Hanover held second over Ken Hanover (Tyler Buter) despite the rough trip.

Fulton is a Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin colt trained by Linda Toscano for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC. Bred by Best Bet Stables LLC., Fulton hasn't missed the top three in seven tries (4-1-2), has stashed away $232,917, and returned $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

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Taking the four $50,000 consolation events were:

--filly trotter Tipsy Moni (by International Moni and bred by Sergent Stables LLC.) in 1:56 4/5 for driver Jim Morrill Jr. and trainer D.R. Ackerman;

--gelding pacer Captain Mikey (by Captaintreacherous and bred by Fred Hertrich III) in 1:53 3/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Jake Huff, and owners Our Three Sons Stable LLC. and Rosalia Huff;

--filly pacer Ginger Tree Coco (by Stay Hungry and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms) in 1:52 4/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Steven Cook, and owners Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC., Knollview Stable, and Robert Reber Jr.;

--colt trotter Carter Michael Deo (by International Moni and bred by Deo Volente Farms LLC.) in 1:56 for driver David Miller, trainer Ron Burke, and owner Thestable Cartermichaeldeo.

On the undercard Allywag Hanover won the $40,000 #SendItIn Invitational from the pocket in 1:47 3/5, equaling Bigtown Hero's world record for an older gelding pacer on a five-eighths-mile track. Tim Tetrick drove Allywag Hanover for trainer Brett Pelling and owner Allywag Stable.