The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series start their 2025 series of races at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon, as $260,566 will be contested by the sport's "glamour division," the 3-year-old pacing males.
In the first of three divisions of the second preliminary of the Sire Stakes (race five), last year's Dan Patch Award-winning freshman Louprint will be looking for his second straight 2025 victory after the son of Sweet Lou opened his season with a 1:49 3/5 sloppy track victory in a Sire Stakes contest at The Meadows two weeks ago. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will be driving Louprint, a winner of $758,499, from post three for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Phil Collura, and Larry Karr.
The major danger to the defending champion will be starting just inside him: the Bettor's Wish colt Twisted Destiny, who churned through the off going in 1:49 1/5 in another Sire Stakes division after returning with a 1:51 2/5 win at Harrah's Philly. Dexter Dunn, Dan Patch Driver of the Year in five of the last six seasons, will guide Twisted Destiny, winner of his last six starts over 2024-2025, for trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of Let It Ride Stables Inc., Alberg Racing LLC., and Enviro Stables LTD.
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The third Meadows Sire Stakes winner, Go Go Grasshopper (1:50 in his seasonal bow), headlines the race ten division, with trainer Joe Bongiorno set to drive from post two for Let It Ride Stables Inc., Odds On Racing, and JB Racing. The "Grasshopper," another son of Sweet Lou, is flanked by Pennsylvania All-Stars winners: Lous Starr in post one and Railroad Station (who was second to Twisted Destiny in the first PaSS leg) in post three.
The other Sires cut (race eight) has no seasonal Pennsylvania stakes winners, although all six entrants have made the Superfecta in state stakes, and the rail horse, Papi's Rocket (last year’s Sire Stakes champion) has come back with seconds in both Sire Stakes and All-Stars competition.
The second prelim of the Stallion Series competition also should be quite competitive, with the entrants accounting for four first round PaStS sections and the three All-Stars divisions that did not go to Sire Stakes entrants. In this respect, the seventh race may prove the highest-octane, with two Stallion Series winners and an All-Stars winner.
The Saturday card also includes a $25,000 pace for the fast-class veterans as part of a great 16-race card, which begins at 1 p.m.
--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--