Midnightcharly, Zipper’s Hero give Coletti statebred stakes double

Trainer Eddie Coletti scored a stakes double Saturday at Parx Racing, sending Midnightcharly out to win the Lyman Handicap and Zipper’s Hero to take the Foxy J.G.

Both stakes were $100,000, seven-furlong events restricted to Pennsylvania-breds, with the Foxy J.G. for fillies and mares.

In the Lyman, 7-5 favorite Midnightcharly raced at the back of the pack as Cowboy Mz took the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.57 seconds and a half in 45.24. Cowboy Mz maintained his lead into the stretch, but Midnightcharly had advanced wide on the turn, and he surged late under Mychel Sanchez to get up for a half-length victory over another closer, Long May You Run. Jw’strickymischief was another three-quarters of a length back in third, with Cowboy Mz fading to fourth. The final time was 1:24.17.

Midnightcharly, a 4-year-old gelding by Uptowncharliebrown, races for breeder Uptowncharliebrown Stud in partnership with Godric LLC. The win was his second this year, fifth overall, and first in a stakes. He returned $4.80.

One race later in the Foxy J.G. Stakes, Zipper’s Hero broke from post 9 under Johan Rosado and went right to the lead, taking the field of 12 through an opening quarter-mile in 22.93 seconds and a half in 46.07. She opened up by six lengths into the stretch, ultimately holding off the late-running Sweetest Yet by 2 1/2 lengths at the finish.

Longshot Its a Journey was three lengths farther back in third, with Smokinpaddylassie another four lengths back in fourth. The favored Bronx Beauty got away slowly and was never meaningfully involved, finishing seventh.

Zipper’s Hero completed the distance in 1:25.12 and returned $19.60 to win. The 6-year-old daughter of Partner’s Hero is now 9 for 26 with earnings of $401,892 for owner Mario Mangini.