Jemilyn romps in Distaff Stakes on Pa.-bred day

Jemilyn romped to a four-length win Saturday in the $150,000 PHBA Distaff Stakes for fillies and mares at Parx Racing. The PHBA Distaff was the featured event on a card devoted exclusively to Pennsylvania-breds.

Jemilyn missed by only one length last year when this stakes was run at seven furlongs. She had no problems with the distance change to 1 1/16 miles.

After running in a pair of open stakes, Jemilyn clearly the relished the return to statebred company.

Abel Mariano guided the 5-year-old into perfect stalking position behind the pacesetting Love Ridge. Jemilyn easily dispatched that rival on the final turn and was all by herself in the run through the lane.

Lovelier got second with Coastal Solace, last year’s PHBA Distaff winner, third.

Trained by Ramon Preciado, Jemilyn paid $6.60 to win. The time was 1:45.23.

In the supporting $100,000 stakes:

* Movin’ Out drew off to a 3 3/4-length win in the PHBA Classic over Smalltownman.

Stewart Elliott rode for trainer Keith LeBarron as Movin’ Out, a 5-year-old gelding, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.60.

Movin’ Out paid $5.20 win as the 8-5 choice while sentimental favorite Delaware River, 9-5 second choice, ran fourth. Now 9, Delaware River had captured the three previous editions of the PHBA Classic.

* Noble Maz led all the way in the $100,000 Mrs. Penny Stakes for filly and mare turf sprinters to give Elliott a second stakes win.

A 4-year-old trained by Bill McCarthy, Noble Maz ran the five furlongs in 57.49 in her stakes debut. She paid $11.80 to win in the one-length victory over Looky Here.

Always for Love, the dominant winner of the Mrs. Penny last year when it was run at 1 1/16 miles on the grass, was fifth as the 3-1 favorite.

* Zoeling stormed home to deny El Churruca a repeat victory in the Mr. Jenny Handicap for turf sprinters

El Churruca put up a game battle, setting the pace under heavy pressure. He yielded briefly to Thorny at the top of the lane before battling back to reclaim the lead. El Churruca didn’t have enough left to hold of Zoeling who got up by three-quarters of a length with Floret Giroux aboard for trainer Doug Mathews.

Zoeling, a 7-year-old gelding racing primarily in the Midwest, earned his 11th career win. He paid $18.40 to win, running the five furlongs in 57.44 seconds.