Sharp Susan rolls to a win

Trainer Bill Mott shipped a horse in from New York to win the Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap at Philadelphia Park for the second time in three years on Monday.

Sharp Susan ($5.20), following the same path that produced a win for 2-5 favorite Pommes Frites in 2006, used the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park as a stepping-stone to the Doc Penny.

A 4-year-old filly owned by a partnership that includes the IEAH Stables, Sharp Susan swept past dueling pacesetters All Is Vanity and Royal Pleasure in the stretch and drew clear to win the $200,000 race by 2 3/4 lengths. She completed 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in 1:42.50 for her first stakes victory since she captured the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga last summer.

Valbenny rallied to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of the 7-5 favorite, All Is Vanity, in a field of five fillies and mares.