The Meadows: Favorites foiled, Gregory doubles in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

Favorites struggled in the three Pennsylvania Sire stakes divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows as 13-1 Ginny Weasley, 9-1 Spicedbourbongirl, and 10-1 Pink Pistol took home victories. Jeff Gregory scored a double by driving the latter two fillies to their victories.

In the first $53,816 section Moots (Wilbur Yoder) posted the 27 4/5 opening quarter and the 57 2/5 half. She was then joined at the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters by the first-over charge of South Side Hanover (Todd Schadel). Ginny Weasley (Lucas Wallin) had been able to land fourth from the far outside post eight, and she was positioned second-over behind South Side Hanover.

Moots and South Side Hanover continued racing side-by-side onto the final turn, but then Moots broke stride, taking her out of contention. While that was going on, Wallin tipped Ginny Weasley to the outside after the cover trip, and she took over the lead. From there, she would draw away to prevail by a length and a half in 1:55 1/5. Miss Tezsla (Dave Palone) rallied to finish second and Black Broadway (Eric Goodell) got third.

Ake Svanstedt trains the victorious daughter of Andover Hall for owner Torp Trotting Inc. of New Jersey. This was her third career victory, and she has now earned $48,085. She paid $29.40

1-5 favorite Womans Will (Andy Miller) worked her way to the point from post four in the second $53,416 test, and she would hit the opening quarter in 28. She was still in the lead at the 56 4/5 half and the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, but was pressured at both stations by the first-over challenge of Twill Be Done (Mike Simons).

Womans Will put away Twill Be Done on the final bend and brought the field into the lane, but Spicedbourbongirl (Gregory) rallied to the tempo-setter's outside after following along in the three-hole throughout, and Spicedbourbongirl got the nod by half a length in 1:55 4/5. Kathy Parker (Palone) was third after a pocket trip.

Gregory also trains Spicedbourbongirl, a filly by Cantab Hall, for William Weaver III of New Jersey. She visited the winner's circle for the third time in her career, and she has now banked $50,055. She returned $20.60 to her backers.

Public choice Sunset Gilder (Palone) had the advantage through panels of 27 2/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25 4/5 in the final $53,816 division, but Pink Pistol (Gregory) brushed by in the lane after a second-over trip and won by a length and a half in 1:55. Sunset Gilder had to settle for second, and Candy Lane (Aaron Merriman) collected third.

Rob Harmon trains Pink Pistol, a Cantab Hall filly, for owners Harmon Racing Stable LLC., Knightstalker Stable, and Lynne Mondrick of New Jersey, Ontario, and New York. This was Pink Pistol's fifth victory of the season and of her career, and she now shows earnings of $55,073.

There were also a trio of $20,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series races for the same group on the card, and they were won by:

-Goodtogo Hanover (six-for-six this year) in 1:56 2/5 for driver Brian Zendt, co-owner/trainer Bill Zendt, and co-owner Gary Saul
-Witnesstheprincess in 1:57 for driver Aaron Merriman, co-owner/trainer Chris Beaver, and co-owners Synerco Ventures Inc. and Michael Robinson
-Shelovesumore in 1:57 1/5 for driver Tony Hall, co-owner/trainer Sharon Donella, and co-owner Kathleen Quinn-Hodel