Miki And Minnie scores in Philly PASS

Sophomore pacing filly Hunterton Born Miki And Minnie, just named No. 1 in the North American Top 10 polls, didn’t take long to show the talent that earned her that spot, winning the single third-round Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event held Thursday (Aug. 7) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Going for $109,440, the richest harness purse in eastern Pennsylvania so far this year, the daughter of Always B Miki drew the outside in a field of seven, and driver Dexter Dunn elected to get a seat with Miki And Minnie early as Asphalt took over from Lily White Hanover by the :27.1 first quarter.
There was no movement as the field reached the half in :55, but then Time Of The Season came outside with Rodeo Drive Deo — the only horse to beat Miki And Minnie this year — on her helmet, and Dunn’s hand was forced. His filly was able to launch a giant third-quarter uncovered charge to take the lead by the 1:22.2 station near the far turn. From there, the race was for place, as neither Dunn nor Miki And Minnie looked at all unruffled as they won by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:49.4. Rodeo Drive Deo finished strongly to edge Time Of The Season for second.
Miki And Minnie is now six-for-seven with $348,222 earned this year and 12-for-18 with $1,182,308 earned lifetime for newly-minted Hall Of Fame trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz.
Possibilities for her upcoming schedule include the Lynch Memorial at Pocono on Aug. 16, a Sire Stakes prelim at The Meadows on Aug. 29 if needed or desired, and her $300,000 PASS Championship on Sept. 6, also at The Meadows.





