Two-year-olds were featured on Monday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, contesting four $40,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championships, having earned their way in after gathering the most points among the group ranking just slightly below their 'A'-list sire stakes brethren.
The Muscle Massive gelding Two AM waited for the smoke from a :27.1 quarter to clear, then rushed to the lead in front of the clubhouse, posted middle splits of :57 and 1:26.1, and went on to take the final for trotting males in 1:55.2 – a stakes record, a new mark, only a tick off the track record, and only 2-5 behind Correctamundo’s seven-year-old divisional world record for age, sex, and gait. Longshot Almirola Hanover found a seam inside and was along for second, 4-1/2 lengths behind; #1 point winner and 4-5 favourite Backstage Pass, coming off three straight Stallion Series scores, made two early moves to the lead, yielded to the winner, and fell a neck short of holding second.
Andrew McCarthy had sulky duty behind the quickly-developing, fast freshman – this was his fourth win in his last five starts – for trainer Todd Buter and the ownership combine of Lynette Buter, Gene Oldford Farms LLC, and William and Carol Fuhs. The 2-1 second choice boosted his bankroll to $53,535 after only six career starts.
Trixie Dust made a sweeping move nearing the final turn to get to make a first-over challenge of leading EZ Passer, then proved an easy passer herself by going by that rival for a 3-1/2 length victory in a personal best of 1:56.2, with All Set Lets Go rallying from second-last at the three-quarter for a distant third. Second choice Explosive Legacy went right to the lead, with favoured Electric Lemonade right behind her, and put down hot fractions of 27.2 and 56.3, then surrendered the lead while EZ Passer came calling before the three-quarter pole in 1:25.4 – but in the end it was “Trixie” who left them all in the red clay Dust.
The daughter of Winning Mister, owned in partnership by trainer Richard Gillock and breeder Paula Sokol, was handled by David Miller, who added this triumph to the three Sire Stakes Championships he won over the weekend. Trixie Dust, the 6-1 third choice, now has career earnings of $53,997.
The chalk won both of the Stallion Series Championships for pacers, with Western Hill defeating the colts in 1:53 and Brazuca triumphing over the fillies in 1:53.4.
Western Hill was up first, and the son of Western Ideal, trainer by Tony Alagna for owner Tom Hill, was also first-up in winning. He tucked fourth behind an early battle for supremacy that resulted in an initial clocking of :26.2, and he was already on the grind well before the :55.3 half. Western Hill cleared to the top with somewhat surprising ease well before the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1, and despite spinning out of the far turn a bit wide, he was able to stay clear in the lane, winning by two lengths over second-over Maconupwiththedragon, with third-over Classy Dragon another three-quarters of a length behind – the inner tier collapsed and was shuffled in the wake of Western Hill getting by the pacesetting Ponderingjacksfame.
Western Hill, who is now 5-4-1-0 lifetime, was driven by Brett Miller, the end to quite a three days for the popular pilot, which was indirectly facilitated by the “other purple Miller,” David. Brett got the catch-drive behind Always B Miki when that one tied the world record 1:47 at Scioto on Saturday, then won a Stallion Series Championship on both Sunday and Monday, the victory with Western Hill tying him for the all-time lead among Stallion Series drivers with his sixth Championship victory.
For about 18 minutes.
And then Dave Palone, whom Brett Miller had just tied, guided the Bettors Delight filly Brazuca to a 1-1/4 lengths score in 1:53.4 after an exciting contest, and in the process reclaimed sole possession of the #1 slot among StS sulky sitters, with seven successes.
Palone initially tucked behind Shes So Marvalous, who used her pole position to maximum advantage, then found himself third after Emily R Hanover went to the lead well after a :27.1 opener, and with the outer tier forming behind him, Palone had no choice but to go first-over with Brazuca nearing the :56.3 half. And the talented filly took it from there, g-r-i-n-d-i-n-g her way while pacing her own third split in :27 to be a half-length behind at the five-eighths, a neck behind at the 11/16, and nose-to-nose with the leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.
Brazuca gained the advantage inch by inch from the game Emily R Hanover, defeating her by 1-1/4 lengths, with Traceuse Hanover coming up the Pocono Pike to be third, another 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, who ran her record to 6-3-2-0 for Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner John.
Pocono will now be dark until a week from tomorrow, Tuesday, September 19, as the track holds its annual and popular Oktoberfest celebration.
(PHHA/Pocono)