Parx Racing will host two state-bred stakes Saturday afternoon, the $75,000 Lyman Handicap and the $75,000 Foxy J G Stakes. Both stakes will be contested at seven furlongs, the Lyman for three year-olds and up and Foxy J G for fillies and mares, three and up.
A full field of twelve will face the starter for what looks to be a wide open Lyman. The morning line 5-2 favorite is Rod’s Five Star. Owned by Silverrod Stable, Inc. and trained by Ed Lehman, the lightly raced 5 year-old gelded son of Five Star Day is always a factor whenever he runs. The December winner of the $75,000 Valley Forge Stakes has won 7 of 13 lifetime, but has not been able to handle his main rival here, Vicky Schowe’s Sloane Ranger. The two met last June in the $150,000 Don Le Vine Memorial Handicap with Sloane Ranger besting Rod’s Five Star by a length and a half. Sloane Ranger prevailed again in early September, winning the $75,000 Banjo Picker Stakes, holding off the late charge of Rod’s Five Star to finish a head in front. Trainer Marty Ciresa will ride Frankie Pennington on Sloane Ranger, while Lehman has opted for Angel Arroyo. Some others that appear to have a legitimate shot include Arlo (Cynthia Reese), Harbor Kid (Scott Lake), Moon Eclipse (Tony Dutrow) and Tujoes (Steve Klesaris). Arlo, a seven time winner at Parx won the $75,000 Auld Lang Syne Stakes here in December. Harbor Kid was second just behind Rod’s Five Star in the Valley Forge. Moon Eclipse has won 5 of 9 locally and is coming off back to back allowance wins, and Tujoes had a terrific year in 2012 and opened his 2013 campaign with a dominating performance at this same distance in a third level allowance in January.
The morning line favorites in the Foxy J G are Greatlookin Blonde and Lisa Stannard. Opening at 5-2, Greatlookin Blonde, owned by Dun Roamin Farm, Inc. and Wire to Wire Stable, Inc. and again trained by Ed Lehman, has never been off the board in 12 career starts. Included in her five wins is a victory last July in the $75,000 Power by Far Stakes. Shelved since that July win, the now 5 year-old Albert the Great mare comes into the race of a bullet five furlong work on April 13th, covering the five-eighths in 1:01.55. Her regular rider Roberto Alvarado will be in the saddle. The 7-2 second choice, Jal Dastur’s Lisa Stannard looks to be in the best form of her career right now. The 4 year-old Lite the Fuse filly won a starter race here February 3rd by better than 4 lengths and then came back five weeks later and despite a significant bobble at the start, came roaring from off the pace to win a first level allowance by three. Javier Santiago is set to ride for trainer Mike Pino. Other contenders look to be Darn That Raven (Ramon Preciado), Starship Girl (Chad Brown) and Villette (John Servis). Darn That Raven won this race in 2012, Starship Girl has won 4 of 6 locally, and Villette has won 2 of her last 3, beating Starship Girl last time out.