The Meadows: Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victories to Pure Country, Shesasmokinlady

Pure Country won for the fifth straight time, and Shesasmokinlady pulled a 7-1 upset in the pair of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.

With regular driver Brett Miller in the seat, Pure Country moved from fourth to first past the 26 3/5 opening quarter in the second $79,880 section. She would go on to reach the half in 54 4/5, and then was challenged first-over by I Said Diamonds (Jim Pantaleano) to the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters. Pure Country put away I Said Diamonds on the far turn, and then opened up through the lane to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:50. Darlinonthebeach (Dave Miller), who broke in the pocket near three-quarters and dropped back to last, re-rallied in the lane to get back up into second, and Shezarealdeal (Dave Palone) checked in third.

“I’ve never driven a filly like her,” Brett Miller said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever driven a colt like her. She might be the best horse I’ve ever driven. To race at the top level like this every week and be that good — it’s amazing. She’s one of the smartest fillies I’ve ever sat behind, and she has the heart of a champion. The couple times I got beat with her, it was probably my fault.”

Jimmy Takter trains Pure Country, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, for owner Diamond Creek Racing. This was her eighth win from 16th win from 19 career starts, and she has now earned $1,418,833. The 1-5 favorite, Pure Country paid $2.40.

Back in the $79,480 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes opener, it was Kiss Me Onthebeach (Dave Miller) in the lead on the outside at the 26 4/5 first quarter mark, but Shesasmokinlady (Ray Paver) brushed from third to first to take over the top spot at the 55 1/5 half. Shesasmokinlady then clicked off three-quarters in 1:23 1/5 before she brought the fillies into the lane. At that point, Tim Tetrick guided 4-5 favorite Newborn Sassy to the outside, and she gained on Shesasmokinlady, but the wire came up just in time for Paver's charge to win by a nose in 1:50 4/5. Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) finished third.

“I figured if I got away third today, I wasn’t sitting,” said Paver of Shesasmokinlady. “She usually doesn’t get tired, but she looks for a horse to race. A horse never really got to her until late.”

Paver also trains Shesasmokinlady, a filly by McArdle, for owner/breeder Iris Horowitz. Shesasmokinlady won for the eighth time in her career, and she has now banked $144,795. She returned $16.80 for the 7-1 upset.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--