Harrah's Philadelphia: Fashion Annie lowers track record in PA Sire Stakes triumph

It's less than a month away from the Hambletonian Oaks, raced on that big card in New Jersey, and the connections of last year's Oaks winner Fashion Schooner - trainer Jim Campbell, owner Fashion Farms LLC. and driver Tim Tetrick - have a 3-year-old trotting filly peaking at an opportune time in Fashion Annie, who won one of a pair of $69,848 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes third preliminaries at Harrah's Philadelphia Sunday afternoon in a track record 1:52 1/5.

The victorious Donato Hanover filly raced mid-pack through fractions of 26 3/5 and 55 2/5, then was out and moving uncovered down the backstretch and to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters. Fashion Annie went to the lead nearing the stretch and maintained an advantage of 1 3/4 lengths over Cando Volo, the horse on her back, while knocking two-fifths off the local standard previously shared by Whose Blues and Anoka Hanover.

In the other division, the International Moni miss Railee Something, who had been second behind Bond in her last pair, showed her appreciation for the absence of that rival by winning in 1:52 4/5. Railee Something moved after the 27 2/5 quarter set by Heaven Hanover, got the lead and the middle fractions in 56 and 1:24 2/5, then had to be sharp to withstand Heaven Hanover's late charge by a neck. Railee Something now has won two Sire Stakes preliminaries and had the two seconds to Bond in her four starts for the Ron Burke barn, with Yannick Gingras guiding her for owner Ronald Mersky.

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International Moni notched another stakes credit when Tipsy Moni won the fastest of three $20,000 Stallion Series divisions in a new mark of 1:53 2/5. Jim Marohn Jr. came uncovered with the sophomore and trotted a 26 4/5 third quarter to go by easily, winning in-hand for trainer/owner D.R. Ackerman.

Becoming a two-time StS winner was another filly taking a new mark, the Bar Hopping miss Piano Bar, who came home in 57 seconds to reduce her standard to 1:55 2/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Ake Svanstedt, and the partnership of Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz, and Sam Goldband. Also sporting a new speed badge is the Father Patrick filly Over Board, rallying up the inside to defeat Lady Lira by a neck in 1:54 3/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Carter Pinske, and the ownership of Pinske Stables Inc. and Lizanne Waples.

--press release (PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)--