Penn Mile Day on May 30th hosts four turf stakes including Penn National’s premier event, the Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes for three year olds going one mile on the turf. Other races include the $150,000 Penn Oaks for three year old fillies at one mile on the turf, and a pair of restricted Pennsylvania- bred turf stakes, the Lyphard Stakes, $75,000 at one mile and one sixteenth for fillies and mares three years old and up, and the Alphabet Soup, a handicap for three year olds and up at one mile and one sixteenth. Post time is 5 p.m. Enjoy free entertainment and family fun like rock climbing, and taste gourmet pizza and tempting desserts while watching top horses and jockeys.
Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
The main event, The Penn Mile drew twelve entries. The early favorite, trained by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Mi Bago, is a multiple stakes winner of $435,900 in nine starts. This year, he won two races out of four starts including the Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call.
Another early favorite, Clock Tower just won the Paradise Creek Stakes on 5-24-25, so he is out. Kentucky Outlaw is a probable scratch unless the race is off the turf. “We are hoping for some downpours so the race comes off the turf,” said trainer Felissa Dunn. “He never ran on the turf, so we don’t know how he’ll handle it, so we’ll probably scratch,” she said. Another contender, the Michael Maker trained Out On Bail has two wins on the turf, and last year, he won the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga. Smooth Breeze won his last out at Aqueduct and has leading jockey Flavien Prat named to ride.
In The Penn Oaks, Mark Casse entered early favorites Candy Quest and Bessie Abott. Candy Quest was second in The Sanibel Island Stakes at Gulfstream Park this year, and Bessie Abott, an Irish-bred, was second in an allowance race at Keeneland this year in her only start in this country.
A competitive group of twelve Pennsylvania-bred fillies compete in the Lyphard Stakes. Early favorite Princess Javoncia, trained by Elizabeth Merryman, is an eight year old mare with 9 wins and earnings of over $330,000. She was third in last year’s Lyphard Stakes. Mark Reid trained Jeanne Marie won the Main Line Stakes at Parx last year, and his other entry, Confirmed Star is a multiple stakes placed winner of $299,976. Another top choice, Lady Outofthe Blue, trained by Michael Matz is making her 2025 debut.
Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
The Alphabet Soup Handicap, originally held at Parx, drew twelve horses. Eff Thirty Five, trained by Brittany Russell, is the favorite and won his last race at Laurel Park. He is making his stakes debut. Second favorite is last year’s winner of the Alphabet Soup Handicap at Parx, Crisper, trained by Tim Woolley. With earnings of $286,226, he is the top money earner in the race. He also won the Summer Fun Stakes at Penn National in 2024. Trevesso, trained by Cathal Lynch, is a stakes winner of the Crowd Pleaser Stakes at Parx in 2024 and is 15/1 in the early odds. Stabled at Parx, and trained by John Servis, Bartlett is 8/1, and is the winner of four races in eight starts. “I’m running Bartlett on the turf in this race, and he is doing very well. He’s training great,” said John Servis. At 5/1, Fierce and Strong has eight wins and earnings of $274,726. He was second in the Alphabet Soup last year and won the With Anticipation Stakes at Penn National in 2024. He has one start and one win this year and is trained by Michael Salvaggio, Jr. At 12/1 in the early odds, Socially Awkward, trained by local Bruce Kravets, won four races this year and over $100,000.
Top notch horses, leading trainers, and top jockeys highlight this year’s Penn Mile Day. The line-up of runners promises to be an exciting, action-packed event.
Cover Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
