The Meadows: Favorites toppled in PA Sire Stakes

9-1 shot Palermo Hanover and 18-1 offering Samosa posted upset victories in the pair of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies that were featured on Saturday afternoon's card at The Meadows.

In the first $66,790 flight, 2-5 favorite Mon Cheval (Yannick Gingras) went to the lead and got away with a soft pace of just 28, 57 3/5, and 1:25 4/5. However, Palermo Hanover (Dexter Dunn) attacked first-over out of fourth approaching three-quarters and was able to take the top spot away from Mon Cheval on the outside midway through the final bend. Mon Cheval tried to battle back in the lane, but it was in vain as Palermo Hanover went on to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:53 3/5. Mon Cheval had to settle for second, and Virgin Mary S (Ake Svanstedt) came in third.

"With a small field, I was either going to be first-up or caught in the three-hole," Dunn said. "She'll follow speed all day, and she finishes it off, so you never know how good she might turn out to be."

Trainer Noel Daley also co-owns Palermo Hanover, a daughter of Father Patrick bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, with partners Lenny Zelin and The Gandolfo Stables. This was Palermo Hanover's fourth win from 16 career starts, and she has now put away $188,217. She paid $20.20 to win.

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The other $67,190 split saw Danznqueen Hanover (Dunn) and Ebbies Lady (Svanstedt) battle for the lead past the start, with Dunn forcing Svanstedt to back off into the pocket prior to the 27 2/5 opening quarter. Danznqueen Hanover then reached the half in 56 3/5, but 1-2 favorite Dreamonhigh (Joe Bongiorno) came with a first-over rush out of third after the half that carried her onto even terms with Danznqueen Hanover at the 1:24 three-quarters.

Dreamonhigh forged her way by Danznqueen Hanover on the far turn, turned for home first, and looked like she'd be tough to catch, but Samosa (Mike Wilder), who had raced in fifth for the first three-quarters of the mile and then gone three-wide on the final turn, was full of trot on the far outside in the stretch and blew by Dreamonhigh on her way to a 1 1/2 length victory in 1:54. Danznqueen Hanover held third.

Samosa, who was racing with trotting hobbles back on after taking them off and breaking in the PaSS at Harrah's Philadelphia, is a Cantab Hall filly trained by Charlie Norris for co-owner/breeder Fred Hertrich III and co-owner Scott McEneny. She has compiled a record of 4-3-1 from 13 lifetime tries, and she pushed her earnings to $100,210. She returned $38.20 to win.

"Charlie told me she has a high turn of speed but be careful getting out of there," Wilder said. "I was careful and kind of raced her the way a longshot should be raced. She did the rest. I moved her, and she was gone.

"I think the hopples helped, especially as quick as she can get into gear. There was never a moment when I thought she would run. She was crisp as ever."

--quotes courtesy of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association--