The Meadows: Millies Possesion trounces field in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

Millies Possesion suffered her first career defeat in the Hambletonian Oaks final, but she remained perfect in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program with a 1:52 4/5 victory in the second of two $82,001 divisions for 3-year-old filly trotters at The Meadows on Monday afternoon. Grimmie Hanover was the other PaSS victor on the day.

Driven by Dexter Dunn, Millies Possesion got away in the fifth position while Personal Paradise (Corey Callahan) opened up a gap on her rivals through a 27 3/5 opening quarter and a 56 3/5 half. Millies Possesion improved into fourth past the half when Rush Lane (Mike Wilder) made a break, and then Dunn sent Millies Possesion first-over before Personal Paradise got to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters.

Millies Possesion advanced quickly on the outside after tipping out, joined Personal Paradise on the final bend, and showed a clear lead on the outside as they turned into the stretch. It was no contest from there, as Millies Possesion drew off convincingly, winning by 5 3/4 lengths. Nomo Volo (Jeff Gregory) was the runner-up, with Personal Paradise third.

Jim Campbell trains Millies Possesion, a daughter of Possess The Will, for owner/breeder Fashion Farms LLC. Unraced as a rookie, she has won nine times from ten starts this year, and she has now earned $349,017. She was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.20 to win.

“She had gone hard up to the front her last two starts,” said Campbell. “But Dexter knows her, and he felt confident they were rolling along enough that he could just take his time. I credit Dexter for sensing how the race was going. He knew how to race her.”

Back in the first section, Magical Beliefs (David Miller) took command at the 28 1/5 first quarter and kept it through a 58 second half and a 1:26 1/5 three-quarters, but in the stretch Grimmie Hanover (Corey Callahan) rallied in the passing lane from the pocket and prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:54 4/5. Fade Into You (Dave Palone) gained from sixth to second in the final quarter, while Magical Beliefs wound up third.

“She’s a nice filly who’s kind of been in some bad spots,” Callahan said. “She probably wasn’t really ready for the Oaks, but I think those miles did her good. She put forth a good effort today.”

Trainer Jeff Cullipher also co-owns Grimmie Hanover, a Cantab Hall filly, with Pollack Racing LLC. Grimmie Hanover didn't win as a 2-year-old, but she has made five appearances in the winner's circle in 2019, and she has banked $103,939 lifetime. She was sent off at 5-1 and returned $12.00 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--