Persistent Takes Valley Forge Consolation Two

CHESTER, PA— The Casie Coleman trained Persistent held off several challengers to win the $75,000 Valley Forge Consolation II in 1:50.2. Rockaround Sue finished second, Mikeleh was third and Lightning Paige finished fourth.

Rockaround Sue was the tempo setter through a :26.2 opening quarter. Persistent pulled the pocket and took the top from Rockaround Sue heading into the clubhouse turn. Lightning Paige was in third and Mikeleh was fourth.

Persistent paced the half-mile in :54.1 (:27.4). Down the backstretch, Persistent was unchallenged. Mikeleh moved into fourth as Air Guitar Hanover made a break at three-quarters in 1:22 (:27.4).

Lightning Paige came first over around the far turn. Persistent was drawing away slightly and Rockaround Sue was stuck at the pylons. Persistent was drifting wide into the stretch, as Lightning Paige was also steering to the grandstand side. Rockaround Sue was coming up the rail and Mikeleh came up the lightning lane. At the finish, Persistent held off Rockaround Sue to win. Mikeleh was third and Lightning Paige was fourth.

Persistent is a three-year-old pacing filly by Western Ideal out of the mare Cams Leading Lady by Million Dollar Cam. She is owned by Robert Hamather, trained by Casie Coleman and David Miller was in the bike to win in 1:50.2, a lifetime mark.