The Meadows: PA Sire Stakes doubles for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Captain Corey

Two-year-old trotting fillies ventured to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Wednesday afternoon for three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events. Driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. won twice, as did sire Captain Corey.

Wrenn Jr. won the fastest flight, the final $40,384 one, with Atlantic Summer in 1:56. Atlantic Summer worked her way to the top after the 29 1/5 quarter, and after middle-half panels of 59 and 1:27 4/5, she trotted home in 28 1/5 to win by a length and a half over a first-over Next Big Think (Dexter Dunn). Shoestrings (Jim Marohn Jr.) came in third.

"She has never made a mistake from Day One through today," victorious trainer Ron Burke offered after the triumph. "She's been one of the best fillies this winter."

The victorious daughter of Captain Corey is trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Jim Simpson, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Atlantic Summer, bred by Winning Key Inc., won in her career debut off two victorious baby races at Gaitway Farm and paid $5.60 to win.

Back in the first $39,984 section, Ms Bojangles (Dave Palone) put up fractions of 28 2/5, 58 4/5 and 1:28 while she parked out Misty Blue (Philip Scott Sonsteby). That battle caused both leaders to tire in the stretch, and Ginger Tree Lex (Wrenn Jr.), who was fifth on the inside, angled out on the final bend and split foes in the lane en route to tallying by a head in 1:57 1/5. Nuance (Dunn) just missed in second and Maya Patel Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) was another neck back in third.

"We changed her to an open bridle and added an ear hood, and I thought today she handled it like a pro," trainer/co-owner Sam Beegle said after the victory.

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Beegle co-owns Ginger Tree Lex, a filly by Bar Hopping, with partners Ginger Tree Ventures LLC., Knollview Stable 2 and Robert Reber Jr. The Hanover Shoe Farms-bred broke her maiden in her second chance, has pocketed $20,872 and returned $9.00 to win.

In the second $40,384 test, Ellie Hanover (Svanstedt) led early but yielded to sit in the two-hole behind Cherry's Girl (Anthony MacDonald) beyond the 29 3/5 quarter. Cherry's Girl hit the half in 59 4/5, and then Svanstedt moved off the pylons with Ellie Hanover prior to the 1:28 2/5 three-quarters. After a duel, Ellie Hanover put away Cherry's Girl in the stretch and drew off to score by a length and three-quarters in 1:57 2/5. Cherry's Girl was clear in second from PA Patricia (Chris Shaw).

"I could have waited until the stretch, but I thought the flow would be coming, and I didn't want to get caught in," Svanstedt explained about why he made his early two-wide move.

Another one by Captain Corey, Ellie Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and is owned by trainer Svanstedt in partnership with S R F Stable and Brochart Stable Inc. Ellie Hanover, who paid $4.60 to win, was victorious at first asking after she was a gaining second in one baby race at the Meadowlands.

--quotes courtesy of The MSOA--