Penn Mile

Making his first trip to Penn National, Frankie Dettori completed a stakes double with a last-jump success aboard Qatar Racing and Hunter Valley Farm's First World War (War Front) in Friday's GIII Penn Mile. Sent off as the 33-10 third betting favorite behind last-out GII American Turf S. upsetter Trikari (Oscar Performance) and the twice-raced New York shipper Good Lord Lorrie (Hard Spun), the $285,000 Fasig-Tipton November weanling took up a position just behind midfield as 6-1 Set (Oscar Performance) galloped his rivals along through enervating fractions of :23.09 and...

The $400,000 GIII Penn Mile, the lone graded stakes annually on the Penn National stakes schedule, has attracted a competitive field of 10 and, adding further intrigue to an already challenging handicapping puzzle Friday evening, is the presence of some of this country's top reinsmen, making a rare appearance at the Central Pennsylvania oval. A good many were pushing for an Amerman Racing-owned son of Oscar Performance to contest the GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs May 4, but GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Endlessly opted for the GI...

Spendthrift Farm's MGSW Major Dude (3, c, Bolt d'Oro--Mary Rita, by Distorted Humor) showed his class, overcoming a bit of trouble to gut out victory in the GII Penn Mile S. at Penn National Friday evening. The 2-5 choice looked to bobble slightly coming out of the gate before assuming a tracking spot behind the :23.17 and :47.85 fractions carved out by Recruiter (Army Mule). Tucked in third on the inside, Major Dude made an initial move on the backstretch, easing to within a neck shy of the front before...

Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup racecaller Larry Collmus will be behind the microphone on GII Penn Mile Night at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course on Friday, Jun. 2, the track announced on Tuesday. In addition to the track's signature event, the veteran announcer will also call the other five stakes races on the evening's program--the $150,000 Penn Oaks and all four Pennsylvania-bred Stakes, each carrying a $100,000 purse. Collmus will begin his visit by hosting a meet and greet on the track's apron starting at 4:30 p.m. For...

Wow Whata Summer sprung the second biggest upset of the year so far when he crossed the finish line in front for the first time, besting previously undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis at odds of 83-1 in the GII Penn Mile S. Uncaptured Spirit (Uncaptured) hustled up to take immediate control with heavily favored Annapolis dueling another foe two lengths back in second and Wow Whata Summer engaged in a three-battle off their heels. Wow Whata Summer moved up inside the chalk as the first quarter went up in :24.08...

'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) makes his belated seasonal bow Friday in the GII Penn Mile S. A perfect two-for-two, the Bass homebred rallied to an impressive debut victory going two turns at Saratoga Sept. 4 and followed suit with a win in Belmont's GII Pilgrim S. Oct. 3, earning a field-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure. Originally scheduled to go on to the Breeders' Cup, the bay was sidelined by a hind ankle chip. Shug McGaughey saddles another talented son of War Front in Fort Washington. Graduating at second...

'TDN Rising Star' Annex (Constitution), a disappointing eighth as the favorite in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs May 1, adds blinkers for Friday evening's GII Penn Mile S. at Penn National. The chestnut was perfect in his previous three trips to the post, including narrow wins in the Palm Beach S. Feb. 27 and Cutler Bay S. Mar. 27. The speedy Original (Quality Road) collected third in his previous two attempts in the GIII Kitten's Joy S. Jan. 30 and Woodhaven S. Apr. 17. He will be...

The GII $500,000 Penn Mile S. as well as the $200,000 Penn Oaks, $100,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup and $100,000 7 Forty 3 S., all scheduled to take place at Penn National May 30, have been canceled, according to a press release distributed via Twitter by the Pennsylvania H.B.P.A. A quartet of Pennsylvania-bred stakes races originally slated for Penn Mile day will be rescheduled. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf previously announced a plan that calls for the state to reopen in stages, and in Pennsylvania's case, red, yellow and green phases. He...

Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), one-two across the line in the GII Penn Mile S. June 1, lock horns again in Friday's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Moon Colony turns back to a mile after setting a pressured pace and tiring to ninth in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. going 1 1/4 miles July 6. "I think the cut back to a mile will be good for him," trainer Mark Casse said. "He's already well proven at a mile,...