It was a girl's nite out at Chester

July 17, 2008

World champion McArdle once held a record for pacing a last quarter of :25.4 and the 2-year-old filly Girls Nite Out performed the same astonishing feat in a June 11 qualifier at the Meadowlands--surprisingly, her first ever charted line. In Wednedsay afternoon's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack, Girls Nite Out ($3) was much the best, racing from off the pace and sweeping three wide for a 1:53.4 victory.

After making a break in stride in a Reynolds Stake division last week at Pocono Downs, driver John Campbell was sure to race Girls Nite Out conservatively in the early going. "We were a little concerned when she made a break at Pocono; we weren't sure why she did that," commented Campbell. "Today, we wanted to be careful in the first part of the mile, and when I tipped her and asked her to go at three-quarters, she responded and cruised home."

With Girls Nite Out easing off at race's outset, Bell On Wheels (Roger Hammer) and All Italian (Ben Stafford, Jr.) both left aggressively from their outside posts, with Bell On Wheels clearing the front well before a :27.2 first quarter. She continued under mild pressure to the half in :55.4--strenuous fractions for 2 year olds by any standard. As outer flow began to form across the bridge, All Italian was flushed out of the pocket just before the point of departure, and Campbell angled the daughter of Four Starzzz Shark and Before Sunrise three deep going into the far turn.

"They were going along in the front, and the outer tier was moving," added Campbell. "At the half, I was pretty confident I could out-brush them."

All Italian drew off to a two-length lead from an uncovered Amazon Queen (Yannick Gingras) past a three-quarter split of 1:25, while Girls Nite Out continued her three-wide pursuit. The Ross Croghan trainee hurtled to the front with 150 yards to go, drawing clear under no urging to secure the 1:53.4 lifetime-best victory by four lengths. I'm Not Gonna Lie (Andy Miller) came on to be second, while Amazon Queen finished third.

Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables, and Jerry Silva co-own Girls Nite Out.

Campbell completed a Sire Stakes driving double with Melissa's Fancy (Blissfull Hall-Everything's Easy), scoring in 1:55.1. Also victorious in their respective divisions were Ginger And Fred (Real Artist-Graceful Motion, 1:54., Tim Tetrick), Insider Tip (Allamerican Native-Ici Paper, 1:54.2, Corey Callahan), Qtee Hanover (Allamerican Native-Quiet Dignity, 1:56, Tony Hall), Boldnbrash Hanover (The Panderosa-Bold Pink, 1:56, Cat Manzi), and Aero Miss (Allamerican Native-Always A Princess, 1:57, Daniel Dube). (Harrah's Chester)

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