Date: August 15, 2025
Post Time: 11:43 PM ET
Surface: Turf
Distance: 1 Mile & 110 Yards
Purse: $150,000
Eligibility: Three-Year-Olds & Up, Pennsylvania-breds
Field Overview & Analysis
| PP | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree | Notable Wins |
| 1 | Spellcast | 4 | Rocco Bowen | Timothy Hamm | Tourist × Orientate to Luv | Multiple wins at Thistledown |
| 2 | Emmanuel | 6 | Jomar Torres | Michael Maker | More Than Ready × Hard Cloth | G2 Pennine Ridge, G3 Tampa Bay |
| 3 | Boltage | 4 | Angel Rodriguez | Michael Trombetta | Bolt d’Oro × Ultimate Prize | Allowance win at Laurel |
| 4 | Boat’s A Rockin | 8 | Eliseo Ruiz | Brandon Kulp | Red Rocks (IRE) × Charming Legacy | Colonial Downs turf sprint |
| 5 | Point Dume | 4 | David Cora | Timothy Kreiser | Into Mischief × Maya Malibu | Multiple wins at Penn National |
| 6 | Uncle Caesar | 4 | Julio Hernandez | Erin McClellan | Uncle Mo × Moondance | Stakes win at Penn National |
Top Contenders
Emmanuel (USA)
Trainer: Michael Maker Jockey: Jomar Torres
Pedigree: More Than Ready × Hard Cloth
Form: Multiple graded stakes winner; 6 wins from 21 starts
Style: Tactical stalker with a strong turn of foot
Notes: Class of the field; has competed in G1 company. Turf pedigree is elite—More Than Ready is a top international turf sire.
Uncle Caesar (USA)
Trainer: Erin McClellan Jockey: Julio Hernandez
Pedigree: Uncle Mo × Moondance
Form: 5 wins from 11 starts; recent stakes win over Point Dume
Style: Front-running gelding with stamina
Notes: Local specialist with strong Penn National form. Uncle Mo progeny are known for versatility and class.
Spellcast (USA)
Trainer: Timothy Hamm Jockey: Rocco Bowen
Pedigree: Tourist × Orientate to Luv
Form: 6 wins from 13 starts; consistent top-three finishes
Notes: Stakes-placed gelding with tactical speed. Tourist won the Breeders’ Cup Mile, suggesting turf affinity.
Trainer & Jockey Insights
Michael Maker (Emmanuel): Nationally renowned trainer with turf stakes success across circuits.
Erin McClellan (Uncle Caesar): Local powerhouse with high win percentage at Penn National.
Timothy Hamm (Spellcast): Known for developing turf sprinters and milers in the Mid-Atlantic.
Jomar Torres & Julio Hernandez: Both riders have strong records in stakes company and turf routes.
Betting Strategy & Prediction
Top Pick: Emmanuel (2)
Exacta Box: Emmanuel / Uncle Caesar / Spellcast
Trifecta Play: 2 over 6, 1 over 3, 5
Best Longshot: Boltage (3) – lightly raced with upside on turf
Expect a tactical pace with Boat’s A Rockin and Uncle Caesar pressing early. Emmanuel’s class and closing power should prevail, but Spellcast and Boltage could spice up the exotics.
