Pocono: Grace Hill, Mikala collect PaSS victories

Three-year-old pacing fillies visited The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono for two $79,767 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions on Saturday afternoon, and it would be Grace Hill and Mikala who took top honors.

Grace Hill, coming off her win in the Shady Daisy at the Meadowlands a week ago, led the way through stations of 26 1/5, 54 3/5, and 1:22 2/5 in the first flight. Pocket-sitter Chase Lounge (George Brennan) went into the passing lane in the stretch and tried to mount a bid, but Grace Hill responded to that challenge and held sway to win by half a length in 1:49 3/5. Thebeachiscalling (Matt Kakaley) was third.

Nifty Norman trains Grace Hill, a daughter of Always B Miki, for owner Tom Hill. This was her seventh win from 17 career starts, and she has now earned $369,355. She was sent off at 1-9 and paid $2.20 to win.

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Mikala (Brennan) fired to the lead from post two in the other section and clicked off panels of 26 3/5, 55 3/5, and 1:23 1/5. On the final bend Mikala got separation from the rest of the field, and she would go on to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:50 1/5. 1-9 choice Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn) trailed in sixth, was backed up on dull cover third-over, and had to settle for rallying for second, and So Irresistible (McCarthy) checked in third from the pocket.

Another Always B Miki filly, Mikala is trained by Nik Drennan for owners Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, Anthony Perretti Farm LLC., and Drennan Stable LLC. Mikala, who was winless in two attempts as a 2-year-old, has a record of 4-2-1 in 2021 and has pocketed $117,218. The 5-1 second choice, she returned $12.00 to win.

Both Grace Hill and Mikala were bred by White Birch Farm.