The Meadows: Party Girl Hill, Lyons Sentinel impress in PA Sire Stakes

Party Girl Hill ran her career record to four-for-four and Dan Patch Award winner Lyons Sentinel picked up her first victory of 2020 in the pair of $94,341 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races for sophomore pacing fillies that took place on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.

With Dexter Dunn at the lines, Party Girl Hill worked hard to wrestle the lead away from JK First Lady (Yannick Gingras) past the 27 second opening quarter and rang up the half in a hot 54 3/5. Baby Your The Best (David Miller) then came after Party Girl Hill from first-over, but Party Girl Hill was able to fend that bid off to the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters and around the far turn.

Despite the early two-wide move and subsequent pressure that Party Girl Hill had faced, she still had more to give in the lane, as although JK First Lady came to the outside and had dead-aim, Party Girl Hill responded and went on to tally by a length and a half in a career-best 1:49 1/5. Baby Your The Best held the third spot.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous, Party Girl Hill is trained by Chris Ryder for owner Tom Hill. Unraced as a rookie, Party Girl Hill has worked herself up from NW1 at the Meadowlands on June 12 to a two-time Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner. She has pocketed $89,950 and paid $4.40 to win.

"She's always had good speed, nice manners - an easy keeper. She always struck us as having class even before we raced her," said Ryder. "At two, she had a broken P1, a bone between the ankle and the foot in the hind leg. It's not unusual for horses, and they heal up, no problem."

In the other grouping Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick) left from post three and forced both Rocknificent (Scott Zeron) and Drama Act (Aaron Merriman) to push on to clear her beyond the 26 second opening quarter. Drama Act reached the half in a blistering 53 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:21 3/5, and that tempo took its toll on the last turn as Lyons Sentinel attacked from first-up and cleared late on the bend.

Once she seized the front-end, Lyons Sentinel got a gap on the field and reported home with a 2 1/4 length victory in a final time of 1:49 2/5, also giving her a new mark. Alexis's Beach (Miller) followed the cover and was second and Rocknificent had to settle for third after getting caught behind the fading Drama Act after Lyons Sentinel pushed past her to the top.

"She could definitely have three wins already, but today she got the better trip," Tetrick said. "She's ready to go beat somebody for sure."

Jim King Jr. trains Lyons Sentinel, another filly by Captaintreacherous, for owner Threelyonsracing. Lyons Sentinel now has a record of 10-6-1 from 17 career appearances, and she has banked $910,553. She returned $3.40 to win as the favorite.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--