Up Front Ben fastest in PASS

Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters contested three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions in Labor Day action at Harrah's Chester, with Up Front Ben earning speed-badge honors with a 1:57 victory, while two divisions of the Pocahontas late-closing series for 2-year-old pacing fillies were contested as well.

Ed Mullinax's Up Front Ben ($17) turned in the fastest performance of the trotters, holding off prohibitive favorite Grant (Cat Manzi) to stop the timer in 1:57. Eric Goodell sent the son of Andover Hall right to the front, and he cut an early quarter of :29.2 before a backed-off half of :59.4. Grand Hallway (Kevin Sizer) left alertly from the outside and settled in second, maintaining the pocket trip before fading up the backstretch to a first-over Grant. Grant assumed the pocket position behind the widening leader, and followed Up Front Ben to three-quarters in 1:28.1. Manzi pulled the pocket, but came up a length short to the Noel Daley trainee.

Kevin Sizer partnered the other two Sire Stakes division winners, driving Swanderful (1:57.2) to victory for Randy Beeckman in the first division, and piloting Edgestone Hanover (1:57.2) wire to wire for Richard Norman.

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