Pocono: Grace Hill gets another PA Sire Stakes victory

Grace Hill improved to three-for-three in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program this year by winning the second of two $105,067 splits for 2-year-old pacing fillies this afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:51. Marsala Hanover was placed the winner of the other division.

The lead changed hands at every call in Grace Hill's flight as Dancethenightaway (George Napolitano Jr.) rocketed to the top from post nine in 26 2/5 opening quarter, then gave way to Continualou (Joe Bongiorno) prior to the 55 second half. Continualou was then looped by a first-over Making Waves (Scott Zeron) past the half, and Making Waves and Grace Hill would duel through a wicked 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, then continued to throw down on the last turn.

In the lane Grace Hill finally wore down Making Waves, who was making her first start off a series of impressive qualifiers, and took a narrow lead, but Continualou had pace in the passing lane and rallied. Grace Hill would not be denied, though, holding on to win by a nose. Uptown Hanover (Matt Kakaley) rallied strongly to finish third ahead of Making Waves.

Grace Hill, from the first crop of Always B Miki, is trained by Chris Ryder for owner Tom Hill. She has three wins and a second from four attempts, and she has now pocketed $124,522. Bred by White Birch Farm, Grace Hill sold for $75,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is the fourth foal out of the Western Terror mare Western Silk (1:50 1/5, $1,679,366), making her a half-sister to Annie Hill (Captaintreacherous, 1:50 3/5, $197,688). Grace Hill returned $3.40 to win as the favorite.

Caviart Audrey (Yannick Gingras), coming off a dazzling win capped off by a 25 4/5 final quarter in her pari-mutuel debut on July 31 at the Meadowlands, was the 1-9 favorite in the other grouping, and she secured the top spot in the second quarter, getting past Marsala Hanover (Zeron) beyond the 27 2/5 opening quarter. Caviart Audrey was well-rated through a 56 4/5 half and a 1:25 three-quarters, but then she veered out on the last turn and bothered a first-over Thebeachiscalling (Dexter Dunn), so even though Caviart Audrey went on to win over Marsala Hanover by a length in 1:52 3/5, she was moved back to fourth for causing interference to Thebeachiscalling, giving the victory to Marsala Hanover. Fire Start Hanover (Mark MacDonald) was elevated to second, with Thebeachiscalling promoted to third.

Linda Toscano trains Marsala Hanover, a filly by Captaintreacherous, for owners Enviro Stables LTD., South Mountain Stables, Little E LLC., and Westminster Road LLC. Marsala Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and fetched $100,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale, now has a record of 2-1-1 from four trips behind the gate, and she has stashed away $89,369. Marsala Hanover is the third foal out of the Bettor's Delight mare Marinade Hanover (1:51 2/5, $139,071), which means she's a half-sister to Money Shot Hanover (Art Major, 1:53, $254,238), the New York Sire Stakes champion in the 2-year-old filly pace division in 2018. Marsala Hanover was the 5-1 second choice and paid $13.60 to win.