Harrah's Philadelphia: Real Cool Sam, Sister Sledge still perfect

Two-year-old trotters Real Cool Sam and Sister Sledge came into the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships on Sunday at Harrah's Philadelphia undefeated and left with the same status after winning their respective events. Papi Rob Hanover (colt and gelding pace) and Lyons Sentinel (filly pace) claimed the other two contests.

Real Cool Sam (David Miller) already had a share of the North American record for a 2-year-old gelding trotter on a five-eighths-mile track at 1:54 4/5 but lowered it to 1:53 4/5 today. EL Ideal (Dexter Dunn) and Amigo Volo (George Napolitano Jr.) did the pace-making through stations of 26 4/5, 56, and 1:24, but Real Cool Sam rallied off the dull cover of Big Oil (Andy Miller) from second-over, using a 28 4/5 final kicker to get up and prevail by two lengths. Amigo Volo was the runner-up, with Chestnut Hill (Tim Tetrick) third.

A Muscle Hill gelding trained by Jim Campbell, Real Cool Sam is a homebred for Jules Siegel's Fashion Farms LLC. He has earned $420,038 to go with his perfect (eight-for-eight) record, and he paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite. Real Cool Sam's dam is the world champion Broadway Hall mare Cooler Schooner (1:51 3/5, $154,984).

Sister Sledge (Yannick Gingras) had the lead at the 28 second opening quarter, 57 3/5 half, and 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, but had to dig in to hold off a game first-over Sorella (Christian Lind), which she did to prevail by half a length in 1:55 1/5. Shishito (Dunn) closed well to finish third.

A daughter of Father Patrick trained by Ron Burke, Sister Sledge was a $35,000 yearling buy at the Standardbred Horse Sale for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Jason Melillo, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Bred by Sergent Stables LLC. and Andray Farm, she has banked $264,562 to go with her unblemished (seven-for-seven) record. Sister Sledge's dam Behindclosedoors is a daughter of Andover Hall who earned $589,226 during her racing career to go with a mark of 1:53 2/5. Sister Sledge was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.40 to win.

In the colt and gelding pace championship Papi Rob Hanover (D. Miller) got away fifth at the 26 3/5 first quarter, but then he came with a blitz that carried him into the top spot nearing the 55 1/5 half. Papi Rob Hanover then met a challenge from a first-up Adriano Hanover (Tetrick), which he was able to repel to the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters and around the last turn. Through the stretch Papi Rob Hanover pulled clear, and he would win by 3 1/2 lengths in a track record 1:50 2/5. Early leader Manticore (Andrew McCarthy) was second, with a locked-in and shuffled-back Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder) up for third.

Trained by Brett Pelling, Papi Rob Hanover is a Somebeachsomewhere colt owned by David McDuffee. Papi Rob Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and sold for $130,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, made his second appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now put away $176,295. Papi Rob Hanover is out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Panera Hanover (1:51 2/5, $158,712), a half-sister to JK Panache (Art Major, 1:47 3/5, $662,789). Sent off as the 4-5 choice, Papi Rob Hanover paid $3.80 to win.

Lyons Sentinel (Tetrick) went home with the title from the filly pace in 1:52. She brushed from third to first beyond the 27 3/5 opening quarter and got to the half in 55 4/5 before meeting up with a first-over attempt by Rocknificent (Brian Sears). Lyons Sentinel dealt with that bid to the 1:24 three-quarters, put it away coming off the final bend, then out-lasted pocket-sitting Baby Your The Best (D. Miller) by three-quarters of a length. JK First Lady (Gingras) also finished well from the three-hole and wound up third.

Jim King Jr. trains Lyons Sentinel, a daughter of Captaintreacherous, for owner Threelyonsracing. Lyons Sentinel now sports a record of 4-3-0 from seven starts, and she has earnings of $274,830. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Lyons Sentinel was a $55,000 buy at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Western Ideal mare Tutu Hanover (1:52, 117,687. This makes Lyons Sentinel a three-quarter sister to recent Lady Maud champion Trillions Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:50, $217,080). Lyons Sentinel was the 3-5 favorite and returned $3.40 to win.

There were $50,000 consolations for each division, with wins going to:

-filly pacer Marloe Hanover in 1:52 for driver David Miller, trainer Nifty Norman, and owners Pinske Stables, David Hoese, and Bridgette Jablonsky

-colt trotter Rome Pays Off in 1:55 for driver Mattias Melander, trainer Marcus Melander, and owner S R F Stable

-colt pacer Mac's Big Boy in 1:52 1/5 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Ron Burke, and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Wingfield Five LLC.

-filly trotters (1:57 dead-heat) Ginger Tree Bren (driver David Miller, trainer Steven Cook, and owners Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC., Henlopen Stable, and Neil Chesen) and Solsbury Hill (driver Scott Zeron, trainer Rick Zeron, and owners Howard Taylor, Rojan Stables, and W.J. Donovan).