The Meadows: Milligan's School, Lagerfeld among Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winners

Milligan's School and Lagerfeld, who both grabbed Grand Circuit wins and over $300,000 in earnings at two, led the winners in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old male trotters on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows. Cufflink Hanover, the runner-up in the Dexter Cup, and Truemass Volo took the other splits.

With Andy Miller in the bike, Milligan's School put up panels of 28 2/5, 58 2/5, and 1:27, then fought off a bid by fellow even-money choice Hititoutofthepark (Corey Callahan) to win his $41,727 division by three-parts of a length in 1:55 3/5. Desert Runner (Aaron Merriman) collected third.

"He's only had one qualifier. I wish he'd have had a little more work, but it didn't work out that way," said Miller. "He dug in and fought pretty game today. He's come back very good. We've taken our time with him and haven't really pressed much on him, so I was real happy with his effort today."

Julie Miller trains Milligan's School, a Yankee Glide colt, for owner Stroy Inc. of New Jersey. This was his sixth career victory, and he has now earned $323,423. He paid $4.20.

Lagerfeld (Yannick Gingras), the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion last year, began his defense of that title with a 1:55 4/5 triumph in the final $42,137 section. He was pocketed through fractions of 27 4/5, 57 4/5, and 1:26 3/5, then slipped through in the passing lane to beat Tyson (Dave Miller) by a length and a quarter. Hollywood Highway (John Campbell) held third after cutting the mile.

"He had a good trip, but he is a trip horse. It wasn't like I could use him a couple times and go back to the front," Gingras said. "That's not his type of racing. He likes it this way. Thankfully, today it did work out. He had plenty left. Once I showed him the racetrack up the inside he did the rest of the work."

Jimmy Takter trains Lagerfeld, another colt by Yankee Glide, for owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding, and Herb Liverman of New Jersey, Ontario, and Florida. This was Lagerfeld's fourth career win, and he has now banked $352,973. Lagerfeld paid $4.60.

The sire stakes action for the day kicked off with Cufflink Hanover (Dave Miller) rallying after a three-hole trip to prevail by half a length in 1:56. Love Matters (Brett Miller) controlled things through stations of 28 3/5, 58, and 1:26 2/5 but wound up second with Southern Cross (Merriman) back in third.

Dave Miller also co-owns Cufflink Hanover, an Andover Hall gelding, with partner Enzed Racing Stable Inc. Richard "Nifty" Norman trains Cufflink Hanover, who visited the winner's circle for the fifth time and boosted his earnings to $126,977. He returned $3.60.

Truemass Volo (Eric Goodell) went all the way on the front in the other sire stakes contest, posting fractions of 28 3/5, 58 2/5, and 1:26 1/5 on his way to a 1:56 decision. Marion Gondolier (Campbell) was second, 4 3/4 lengths behind the winner, and Hanks Tank (Dave Miller) got third.

Doug Hamilton trains Truemass Volo, a Muscle Massive gelding, for owners Jon Erdner and Martin Garey of Pennsylvania and California. Truemass Volo, who won two Pennsylvania Sire Stakes preliminary rounds last year, won for the fourth time overall, and he has now banked $110,738. He returned $17.80.