Freehold, NJ --- Trainer Joe Holloway’s top two female pacers will be in action Sunday in Pennsylvania, but at different tracks.
Shebestingin is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the $250,000 Betsy Ross Invitational at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon and Somwherovrarainbow is the 5-2 choice in the $25,000 Mares Preferred at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Sunday night.
Holloway would have preferred to see both 4-year-old mares in the Betsy Ross, but was limited to one starter. Shebestingin and driver John Campbell will start from post eight in the eight-horse Betsy Ross field.
The remainder of the field, in post order, is Drop The Ball, Rocklamation, Jerseylicious, Monkey On My Wheel, Anndrovette, JK Letitgo, and Yagonnakissmeornot.
“I have the eight hole, but I don’t know what would be a good post position with the way the race might unfold,” Holloway said. “John will work out a trip. To me, I know she’s the best in the race. As long as we get a trip we’ll be fine.”
Shebestingin has won 17 of 25 career races and $724,102. This year, she has won twice in three starts, including a track-record 1:50.4 triumph in the Chip Noble Memorial at Miami Valley Raceway on May 4. Last week, she finished second to Jerseylicious in the fillies and mares free-for-all handicap at the Meadowlands. The winning time was 1:50.1 over a sloppy track.
“She's the kind of horse that needs to train a bit more, needs to get a little tight,” said Holloway, who trains Shebestingin for Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz, and L&L DeVisser. “She’s finally getting there. She didn’t race as well last week but it was teeming down rain. She is a bit of a diva, she has her quirks, and she didn’t really like the heavy rain at the time. She was pacing along just fine. There was nothing really wrong.”
Somwherovrarainbow, who has won five of seven races this year and earned $266,750 for owners Ted Gewertz and Diamond Creek Racing, will start from post seven in a seven-horse field at Pocono Downs. Tim Tetrick will drive.
The remainder of the field, in post order, is American In Paris, Scandalous Hanover, Continual Velocity, Krispy Apple, Show Runner, and Feeling You.
Somwherovrarainbow is coming off a win in the fillies and mares free-for-all handicap at the Meadowlands on May 9.
Both of Holloway’s mares are scheduled to head to the Roses Are Red Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack following Sunday’s action. The Roses Are Red eliminations are June 7 and the final is June 14.
“I think I have two of the best fillies in the country and only one of them will get to race (in the Betsy Ross),” Holloway said. “I wanted to find a start for her (Somwherovrarainbow) between now and next Friday because we can’t go a month without racing before the Roses Are Red.”