The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono got to showcase the early season’s precocious freshman pacing colts last weekend in Pennsylvania All-Stars action, and many winners looked like they could be the stars of the near future.
On Monday, the two-year-old colt trotters will have the same opportunity, as they will be spread out over six $30,000 divisions of their All-Stars event. Most of the top stables have multiple candidates for stakes glory. Trainer Marcus Melander has four entrants, while barns with three starters include those of Chris Beaver, Ron Burke, and Erv Miller.
The two season’s leaders on five-eighths-mile tracks at 1:57 will be participating in consecutive races. One is Heavensdor Hanover, who will start from Post 4 in Race 3 for trainer Wayne Givens and driver Victor Kirby. He recorded his 1:57 win – which included a back half of :57 – on the engine during a Pocono baby race. ‘Hevanesdor’ will find a tough opponent to his immediate left in Fashion Possessed (who is trained by Jim Campbell and driven by David Miller). Fashion Possessed in undefeated after two early races.
The other 1:57f performer has the inappropriate name of Klutzy (Post 3, trainer Julie Miller, driver Andy Miller), who achieved his mark in a pari-mutuel contest at Philly. From the rail in this heat is Green Manalishi S (Post 1, trainer Marcus Melander, driver Brian Sears), who already has victories in 1:57 then 1:56.3 in Meadowlands freshman a.m. outings.
The fastest two-year-old trotting colt overall is Dont Letem, who will start from Post 3 in Race 10 for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Yannick Gingras. He posted a 1:55 clocking in his very first charted line, a Meadowlands baby race, and since has come back to tally in a purse race in 1:55.1 (with a final quarter in :27). He’ll face three other opponents who already have been twice first.
The six divisions – which feature eleven freshmen who already show a winning line better than 2:00 – have been carded as Races 1 through 5 and Race 10 on the Monday card, which will get underway at 7 p.m.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)