After a quarter-mile in their respective races Monday at Parx Racing, Morning Matcha and Far Mo Power both had plenty to do. The former, in the $100,000 Unique Bella Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares, was seventh, some nine lengths behind the leader. And the latter, in the $100,000 Page McKenney for PA-breds, was 11^th and last, 13 back of the leader.

No matter. Both mounted strong rallies to win and kick off their 2024 campaigns in style.

Morning Matcha, last seen winning the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct in December, advanced while well wide on the turn and surged away in the final eighth of a mile. She covered seven furlongs in 1:26.33 on a fast main track at Parx Racing.

Mychel Sanchez was in the irons for trainer Butch Reid and owners LC Racing, Cash Is King LLC, and Gary Barber. The win was the Central Banker filly’s seventh in 25 career outings and pushed her bankroll to $954,940.

The five-year-old Morning Matcha was bred in Pennsylvania by Crane Thoroughbred Services and purchased as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2020 fall yearling sale for just $18,000. Morning Matcha has placed in four graded stakes, including a runner-up effort in the 2022 Grade 1 Cotillion over her home track at Parx.

Off as the favorite, Morning Matcha paid $3.20 to win. Doctor Abbie was second, and Warrior’s Ransom finished third. The top three finishers were sixth, seventh, and eighth after a half-mile.

One race later Far Mo Power, under Dexter Haddock, rallied from the rear to win the Page McKenney by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:25.82 for seven furlongs. Ninetyprcentmaddie finished second, and favored Uncle Ernie was third.

Far Mo Power was able to save ground around the turn before Haddock swung him wide for the drive, and he moved clear of his rivals in the race’s late stages.

Far Mo Power is trained by Lou Linder for Joseph Sutton. A six-year-old Uncle Lino gelding, he has won eight of 17 career starts for earnings of $450,168. The win was his second in stakes company; he previously won the 2022 Parx Dirt Mile but recently had been idle since last July.

Far Mo Power was bred by Peter Giangiulio. He paid $17.00 to win.

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