From HarnessLink (Harrah’s Philidelphia, published 6 September 2025)
Over $1.5 million in purses was offered at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon, with the bulk of the bounty being distributed in four $300,000 Championships of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for two-year-olds. In addition to the big-money finales, there were $50,000 consolations for each harness racing division, along with $100,000 in three races for fast-class older performers.
Pacing colt Frantic Hanover (Stay Hungry) and trotting filly Ginger Tree Lex (Bar Hopping) were the stars of the show, adding their rich Championships to a four-race sweep of their preliminaries. Frantic Hanover also set a couple of records, as appear right below.
In addition to his prelims/SS Championship sweep, the Stay Hungry – Francessa colt Frantic Hanover paced the fastest mile ever by a freshman on a five-eighth mile track, 1:49.1, knocking a tick off the mark set by his colt stablemate Al Papi two weeks ago at The Meadows and by the gelding One More Laugh here at Philly sixteen years ago. And he pushed his winnings in his five PaSS starts to $288,564 – the most-ever by any Sire Stakes competitor in one campaign, eclipsing the $286,918 earned by 2PF Pure Country in 2015.
Frantic Hanover watched from fourth as Al Papi blasted away from post eight to grab command before the :26.1 quarter, then immediately started a brush to the top that landed him on the engine by the three-eighths before a :54.3 half. Outside challengers didn’t make much headway to and past the 1:22 three quarters, and Frantic Hanover came home in 27.1 (his slowest last quarter in an undefeated career, including qualifiers) to hold off the looming Al Papi by 1¾ lengths, with Melillo completing a 1-2-3 sweep for the Burke Brigade by getting the show dough off a second-over trip.
Frantic Hanover’s total earnings, including a PA All-Stars win in his only non-PaSS start, is $303,564 for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Brad Grant, and Knox Services Inc.
The consolation went to the Captaintreacherous – Square Dancer colt Signal Caller, who brushed to the lead going to the three quarters (while pacing her own third quarter in 26.1) and then drew clear in a 1:53.1 win. Andrew McCarthy drove for trainer Noel Daley and the partnership of Patricia Stable, Kovach Stables LLC, Sjoblom Racing Inc., and L A Express Stable LLC.
