Pocono: Niki Hill threatens world record in PA Sire Stakes victory

Niki Hill came up just two-fifths shy of the world record for a 2-year-old pacing filly on a five-eighths-mile track when she won the first of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:50 3/5. Treacherous Dragon and Onecrookedleg won the other splits.

Driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Chris Ryder in the $54,582 event, Niki Hill was third at the 27 second opening quarter, but Dunn brought her to the outside past that point, and she was able to brush past 1-9 favorite Captain Cowgirl (Andrew McCarthy) for the top spot prior to the 55 4/5 half. From there, Niki Hill sailed through three-quarters in 1:23 2/5, then kicked home in 27 1/5 to keep Captain Cowgirl at bay by a length. Jazzed (Andy Miller) followed in for third.

A daughter of Always B Miki, Niki Hill is two-for-two and has earned $37,291 for owner Tom Hill. Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey, Niki Hill sold for $155,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Road Bet (1:52, $380,315), making Niki Hill a half-sister to Cattlewash (1:46 4/5, $1,101,177). Niki Hill was the 4-1 second choice and paid $10.80 to win.

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In the next $54,582 grouping, Treacherous Dragon (David Miller) stepped around Bermuda (Dunn) for the lead going to the 28 second quarter-mile marker, but 4-5 favorite Hit Me Up (Joe Bongiorno) pressed on two-wide and landed on the engine after that station. Hit Me Up was well-rated through middle-half fractions of 57 1/5 and 1:26 and was able to fight off a first-over attack from Collusion Illusion (Yannick Gingras) to three-quarters and onto the final turn, but in the stretch Miller sent Treacherous Dragon into the passing lane, and she out-finished Hit Me Up to prevail by a neck in 154. Sweet Omen (McCarthy) was third.

Treacherous Dragon, a filly by Captaintreacherous, is trained by Brett Pelling and owned by Hot Lead Farm LLC. The $260,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase broke her maiden in her second opportunity, and she has now put away $32,291. Treacherous Dragon, who was bred by White Birch Farm, is the ninth foal out of the Dragon Again mare My Little Dragon (1:48 1/5, $2,323,854), which makes Treacherous Dragon a three-quarter sister to Stay Hungry (1:47 3/5, $1,303,709). Treacherous Dragon was the 9-5 second choice and returned $5.80 to win.

JK I Feel Fine (D. Miller) and St Nevis (Dunn) battled for command on the first turn in the last $54,982 section, but St Nevis made a miscue and left JK I Feel Fine clear at the 27 3/5 opening quarter. McCarthy waited for the dust to settle with 1-2 favorite Onecrookedleg, then vacated the pylons from third as they raced in the homestretch for the first time. Onecrookedleg surged past JK I Feel Fine before the 56 1/5 half, put three-quarters on the board in 1:25 3/5, and sprinted home in 27 1/5 to defeat JK I Feel Fine by a length and three-quarters. No Foolin (Matt Kakaley) came in third.

Trainer Brett Bittle also co-owns Onecrookeleg, a Sweet Lou filly, with Dan Bittle. Onecrookedleg, who was bred by Black Horse Breeding and fetched $9,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 2-2-0 from four trips behind the gate, and she has banked $52,491. Onecrookedleg is the first foal out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Rock My Girl (1:53 3/5, $36,913), a half-sister to Hickfromfrenchlick (1:48 4/5, $662,127). Onecrookedleg paid $3.00 to win.