The Meadows: Miller doubles up in Saturday's PA Sire Stakes

David Miller was the winning driver in both $106,929 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows, tallying with Southwind Gendry and Chase H Hanover.

In the first split The Legend Hanover (Tim Tetrick) cleared Whichwaytothebeach (Marcus Miller) passing the 27 second opening quarter, but Always A Miki (Dexter Dunn) tipped out from third just beyond that marker, moved up on the rim, and forged his way by before the 55 3/5 half. While Always A Miki was taking charge, David Miller sent Southwind Gendry first-up from fifth.

Southwind Gendry advanced steadily into second at the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and he remained in that spot on the outside of Always A Miki around the far turn as well. It looked like Always A Miki might have put Southwind Gendry away in upper stretch as he was able to get ahead of him by a length, but Southwind Gendry came with another late push that carried him by the leader and on to the win by half a length in 1:51 3/5. Always A Miki had to settle for second, with Whichwaytothebeach third.

Ron Burke trains Southwind Gendry, a gelding from the first crop of Always B Miki, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, Knox Services Inc., and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Southwind Gendry, who was bred by Southwind Farms LLC. and went for $30,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 3-0-0 from five tries, and he has now earned $90,644. Southwind Gendry is the sixth foal out of the Cam's Card Shark mare Gambler's Passion (1:50 4/5, $123,100), a three-quarter sister to Geez Joe (Roll With Joe, 1:47 4/5, $324,932). Sent off at 9-1, Southwind Gendry paid $21.80 to win.

"I actually liked the trip because he wasn't going to have to be three-wide," said Burke. "I knew once he got wheel-to-wheel with the other horse, he would make that colt race. This horse doesn't get tired, and he tries."

Capt Jack Hanover (Tetrick) blasted out from post five to early control in the other section, but Chase H Hanover pulled pocket before the 27 second opening quarter and took charge past that point. Chase H Hanover would go on to click off a half in 55 1/5 and a three-quarters in 1:22 4/5 and opened up a big advantage on the group on the far turn. He needed most of that gap as he began to tire and come back to the field in the lane, but in the end he did hold sway to win by half a length in 1:51 1/5. Crunch Hanover (Aaron Merriman) came to the outside from the three-hole late on the final bend and closed well for second, and Lou's Pearlman (Matt Kakaley) rallied for third after being stuck third-over in a dull cover flow.

The victorious Captaintreacherous gelding is co-owned by trainer Scott Cox in partnership with Jason Ash. Chase H Hanover, a Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.,-bred who fetched $30,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, has two victories and three seconds from six efforts, and he has pocketed $109,332. Chase H Hanover is the eighth foal out of former Breeders Crown winner Calgary Hanover (Western Ideal, 1:53 2/5, $410,343), making him a half-brother to the likes of Coal Hanover (Dragon Again, 1:49 4/5, $384,222). Chase H Hanover was the favorite and returned $4.40 to win.

"We made a couple changes - we opened him up and put cups on him," said Cox. "I hope he still had something at the wire; it looked like he was getting a little lackadaisical. He's kind of easy on himself."

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--