If Joe Pavia, Jr. experiences déjà vu during Friday’s $262,757 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for three-year-old filly pacers at The Meadows, it will be quite understandable.
Pavia guided Native Bride to victory in the 2008 edition of the stake, known as the Romola Hanover; her time of 1:50.1 not only is the stake record, but it remains the track record for sophomore filly pacers.
On Friday, Pavia will pilot the red-hot Ruffles Kiss, who has won three straight races and five of her last six. The Romola Hanover highlights a card that also includes a $100,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, meaning that $362,757 in stakes purses will be on the line over eight divisions.
Pavia trains Winbak Farm’s Ruffles Kiss, a daughter of Blissful Hall-White Ruffles who has been on a tear, with two PASS victories and a Reynolds win since June 18. But she drew into Race 12 with a marquee field that also features Its De Lovely, driven by Jeff Gregory to victories in a Reynolds division and the final of the Lismore. Gregory again will handle the reins of the daughter of Four Starzzz Shark-Reflect Upon Life for trainer James Giorgianni and owners Alison Giorgianni and Jeff Gregory Inc.
Also competing in the 12th are two fillies - A And Gs Princess and Panagler - who made the final of the $646,020 Fan Hanover. Brett Miller drives A And Gs Princess (Allamerican Native-Amorosa Hanover) for trainer Mark Capone and owner A And G Stables while trainer Bob McIntosh has named Dave Palone for Peter Pan Stables’ Panagler.
No matter the outcome Friday, Ruffles Kiss and Its De Lovely may meet again soon; both are eligible for the $200,000 (est.) Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo, to be raced Saturday, July 31, as part of the Delvin Miller Adios final card.
Dancinwiththestarz (Four Starzzz Shark-So Western), the 2009 PASS champion, headlines the first division in Race 10. Palone is down to drive for trainer Mark Harder and owners W Springtime Racing Stable and Shannon Brott.
The final division goes as Race 14, with Odds On Moinet the filly to beat. The daughter of Real Artist-Aparte has won seven of nine starts and $151,979 this year for trainer Robin Schadt and Odds On Racing. Palone has been named to drive.
First post Friday is 12:55 p.m.