The Meadows: Muscle Hill fillies sweep in PA Sire Stakes

Sans Defaut and Fifty Cent Piece, two daughters of Muscle Hill, both pulled slight upsets in winning the pair of $93,591 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old filly trotters that occurred on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.

In the first split Sans Defaut (Matt Kakaley) popped pocket to get around Aldebaran Revani (Andrew McCarthy) for the lead past the 27 2/5 opening quarter but was overtaken and put back in the two-hole by Queen Of The Hill (Yannick Gingras) prior to the 57 second half. Queen Of The Hill went on to three-quarters in 1:25 and turned for home on top after a first-over Impressive Fashion (Dave Palone) broke on the far turn, but Kakaley guided Sans Defaut into the passing lane in the stretch, and she rallied through on her way to a 1 1/2 length win in 1:54 1/5. Miss McKee (Tim Tetrick), who was left first-up when Impressive Fashion broke, was the runner-up, with Queen Of The Hill back in third.

Ron Burke trains Sans Defaut, a full sister to Southwind Frank, for co-owner/breeder Crawford Farms and co-owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. J&T- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Sans Defaut is now a six-time winner from 15 attempts, and she has pocketed $180,185. A 7-2 offering, she paid $9.00 to win.

The second grouping went much the same way as Fifty Cent Piece (Mike Wilder) followed Electrapedia (Palone) in the pocket through stations of 28 1/5, 55 3/5, and 1:24 1/5, shot through the passing lane, and went on to a 1 3/4 length decision in 1:52 2/5. Shishito (Tetrick) was the runner-up from first-over, and Dip Me Hanover (David Miller) came in third after following cover from second-over.

Fifty Cent Piece is trained by Marcus Melander for owner S R F Stable. This was her fourth victory from nine trips behind the gate, and she has earned $79,618. A 4-1 choice, Fifty Cent Piece returned $10.00 to win.