The Meadows: Treacherous Reign topples Warrawee Ubeaut in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

Treacherous Reign ended the undefeated run of Warrawee Ubeaut, turning in a 1:51 3/5 mile to win their duel in the first of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.

Driven by Andrew McCarthy in the $60,154 contest, Treacherous Reign yielded to Warrawee Ubeaut (Yannick Gingras) passing the 27 2/5 opening quarter. Warrawee Ubeaut would keep the tempo high in the second quarter, reaching the half in 54 4/5, and then went on to three-quarters in 1:23 1/5. Treacherous Reign was sent to the outside entering the far turn, and although Warrawee Ubeaut was able to keep Treacherous Reign at bay around the bend and into the lane, Warrawee Ubeaut weakened late, with Treacherous Reign surging by to win by half a length. Rockn Philly (Tim Tetrick) was third.

“I wanted to make her (Warrawee Ubeaut) work a little bit the first quarter,” McCarthy said. “She had to go pretty good fractions after that. My filly was feeling really strong at the three-quarters. The pace was starting to slow down, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t get buried.”

Tony Alagna trains Treacherous Reign, from the first crop of Captaintreacherous, for owners Alagna Racing LLC., Big Als Stables, Let It Ride Stables Inc., and Dana Parham. She now has a record of 3-1-0 from four starts, and she has pocketed $67,854. Bred by White Birch Farm, Treacherous Reign was a $50,000 buy at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is the first foal out of Scandalous Hanover (Dragon Again, 1:49 3/5, $363,570). Treacherous Reign was the 8-5 second choice and paid $5.20 to win.

In the next $60,154 grouping, Sweeter Lulu (Mike Wilder) took control beyond the 28 1/5 first quarter, and would continue to front the field through a half in 56 3/5 and a three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, opening up a bit on the field at the latter marker. While Sweeter Lulu was doing the pace-setting, Sylph Hanover (Matt Kakaley) moved first-up from fourth past the half, and then was able to get into a loose pocket position on the final bend. Sylph Hanover was able to chip into the margin late on the far turn, angled back out for the drive, and surged by Sweeter Lulu to score by half a length in 1:52 1/5. Sweet Chrome (Gingras) got third.

“She’s been getting a little hot the last couple starts,” said Kakaley. “So we wanted to do things quietly, not get her revved up. I wanted to make one late run with her. She finished great, that’s for sure.”

A filly by Somebeachsomewhere, Sylph Hanover is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin, and Joseph Critelli. She is now a two-time winner from five tries, and she has earned $76,061. Sylph Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., was acquired for $75,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Artiscape mare She's A Fan (1:50 3/5, $322,663), making Sylph Hanover a half-sister to Shakai Hanover (Well Said, 1:52 4/5, $218,543). Sylph Hanover was the 4-5 favorite and returned $3.60 to win.

The final $60,554 division went to Bestseller Hanover (Dave Palone) in 1:52 4/5. She was on the engine through fractions of 27 4/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25, and was able to fight off first-over Stonebridge Soul (Tetrick) and passing lane-attacking She's Allright (Gingras) through the lane, defeating Stonebridge Soul by a head.

“We didn’t do any pacing until the eighth pole home,” Palone said. “We turned it into a sprint. It would’ve been tough to catch her from there. We probably came that last eighth in 12 and change.”

The victorious daughter of Somebeachsomewhere is trained by Eric Adams for owner Millar Farms. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now put away $86,942. Another Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.-bred, Bestseller Hanover went for $130,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Western Terror mare Bittorsweet Terror (Western Terror, 1:52 1/5, $43,895). This makes Bestseller Hanover a half-brother to Chip Walther (Art Major, 1:50 3/5, $296,411), and the dam Bittorsweet Terror is a half-sister to millionaire Cam Swifty. Bestseller Hanover was the 4-5 choice and paid $3.60 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--