Harrah's Philadelphia: Crantini, French Wine trot to PA Sire Stakes triumphs

Crantini won his second consecutive Pennsylvania Sire Stakes outing during the Thursday afternoon card at Harrah's Philadelphia in 1:56 2/5, while French Wine broke his maiden while going three-fifths of a second faster in capturing the other $75,816 division.

The International Moni-Peach Martini colt Crantini has already captured stakes at all three of Pennsylvania's pari-mutuel tracks, with a Sire Stakes win at The Meadows and a PA All-Stars triumph at Pocono joined by the Philly mile. Scott Zeron got to the lead with Crantini in 28 3/5, backed the half off to 59 1/5, then passed the three-quarters in 1:27 3/5 (aided by the day's backstretch tailwind) before out-finishing Once In A Lifetime by three-quarters of a length for trainer Megan Scran and The Stable Crantini Group while equaling his mark.

Though making only his second purse start, French Wine joined Crantini as a winning favorite, largely on the strength of being photoed out in 1:55 1/5 in his bow last Friday at the Meadowlands. Here, the Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi colt raced from far back for driver Andy Miller, moving after early splits of 28 1/5 and 58 2/5 and then going his own third panel in an amazing 26 3/5 to be challenging for the lead by the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters. French Wine kept going in the lane and was a length clear of 42-1 shot Kobe B at the finish for trainer Julie Miller and Andy Miller Stable Inc., Daniel Plouffe, Jean-Christophe Plouffe, and Michael Cote Gagnon.

Driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Tim Twaddle combined to win two of the four $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, both with favorites and one each with the two sires who also produced Sire Stakes winners. The International Moni- Brigham Dream colt Carter Michael Deo was on best behavior and showed a good rally from the pocket to win for the first time in 1:57 for Thestable Cartermichaeldeo. Thestable MacDonaldtwaddle also paraded back the front-ender Tailgate Buzz, a Bar Hopping-Twin B Alibi gelding, after the freshman won his third straight, here in 1:58 1/5, for owners Thestable Tailgate Buzz as their freshman became his division's only double Stallion Series winner.

The Southwind Frank-Southwind Maywood colt Sir Frank is now undefeated in two starts after recording his fastest time, 1:57 2/5, for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Jenny Melander, and the partnership of Melander Racing Inc., Clark Stables LLC, and John Devito. The other StS section gave a clue as to why Tim Tetrick tops the drivers' standings here: he was sitting third early with the Father Patrick-Prettiestgalaround colt Alonso when the leader made a break and caused the pocket horse to make an "ix;" Tetrick calmly avoided trouble, went on to the lead, and got a 1:59 1/5 maiden victory with Alonso for the meet's top trainer, Per Engblom, and the ownership of Engblom Stable LLC., Wiesman Farms LLC., and R A W Equine Inc.