Pocono: Papi Grad remains at the head of the PA Sire Stakes class

The Papi Rob Hanover-Betterthangraduate 2-year-old pacing filly Papi Grad has now opened her purse career with three consecutive 1:51 1/5 victories after winning her division of three $60,608 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes second round prelims on Sunday evening at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Brett Miller moved the undefeated freshman after the 28 2/5 first quarter and was briefly three-wide en route to the lead by the 56 2/5 half. The three-quarters came and went in 1:23 3/5, at which point Papi Grad had the complete command she would maintain to the wire, although her win margin this week was "only" 6 1/2 lengths over the 107-1 Dexter Dunn-driven longshot Treacheryinthedark. (You'll see the words "Dunn" and "longshot" together again in a couple of paragraphs). Trained by Steve Carter for Brent Hopper, Jay Mossbarger, TKO Racing Stable LLC., and SCPStable&FriedlandRacing, Papi Grad is the only double Sires winner in the division.

The other two Sire Stakes divisions were won by daughters of Captaintreacherous who are both undefeated and who took new marks. Lily White Hanover (dam Lillian Hanover) rolled right by in the stretch while coming her own last quarter in 27 3/5 in a 1:51 3/5 victory for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Andrew Harris, the latter co-owner with William Pollock and Bruce Areman.

And Westwinds (dam Muskoka Moonlight) blitzed home in 26 2/5 to complete a 1:52 2/5 tally and add a Sire Stake to her Stallion Series and All-Stars wins earlier. Tim Tetrick drove for trainer Steve Carter and the partnership of Milton Leeman, Stambaugh Keith Stable, Joe Sbrocco, and Wingfield Brothers LLC.

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Papi Rob Hanover also had a double within the seven $20,000 Stallion Series races, and like in the Sires he fathered the fastest winner in Gigglingonthebeach (dam Always Giggling). The George Napolitano Jr.-driven miss broke her maiden in 1:51 4/5 for trainer Juan Cano and Hot Lead Farm.

"Papi Rob" combined with the broodmare Paula's Best to produce the only double Stallion Series winner, Pliar Hanover, who recorded the second-fastest StS mile, 1:52 4/5, to lower her mark for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owners Jo Ann Looney-King and Paton Racing Inc.

Captaintreacherous picked up a "double-double" Sires credit with two victories in both series of races. Simply Perfect (dam Stacia Hanover) took a mark of 1:54 4/5 for driver Andrew McCarthy (who had four wins in total on the night), trainer Tony Alagna, and owners Pryde Stables Inc., Steven and Michelle Head, and Caviart Farms.

Simply Perfect was one of seven favorites to win in stakes on the card; among the ten stakes races, nine winners combined for an aggregate win payoff of $35.10. The "outlier" was Captaintreacherous's other winner, Oh Ophelia (dam Hey Lolly La), who made her debut a successful one in 1:55 2/5 for trainer Nifty Norman, owners Kovach Stables LLC. and Enzed Racing Stable Inc. – and driver Dexter Dunn, with the longshot paying $123.60 for a $2 win ticket!

Also doubling up in the StS was sire Bettor's Wish: with Wise Professor (dam Teachers Vet), undefeated in two starts after winning here in 1:54 for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Nifty Norman, and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing, and with Bet On Station (dam Canard Hanover), who took a maiden mark of 1:53 2/5 for driver Brett Miller, trainer Jamie Sullivan, and owner Frank Chick.

Rounding out the double-digit divisions of freshman fillies was JK Fancy Nancy, a daughter of Captain Crunch out of Horse of the Year JK She'salady, whose first purse start was successful in 1:54 3/5 (she had gone a tick faster winning a Meadowlands qualifier). Dexter Dunn drove the Nancy Takter trainee for 3 Brothers Stables.

Racing continues at Pocono on Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--