Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings — split into three divisions — will contest their $180,855 third preliminary of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on Sunday night (Aug. 18) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Four $20,000 Stallion Series events will serve as the undercard features.

There have been two double winners so far in this division of Sire Stakes competition, and as expected, both were made the early favourites in their respective divisions.

First to see action will be the Western Ideal-A And Gsconfusion colt Adriano Hanover, starting from post three in the second division (race five) for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King Jr. Adriano Hanover is undefeated in four lifetime starts, and he has a division of the Arden Downs Stake to his credit as well as the two PASS wins, all recorded at The Meadows. He has a mark of 1:52.2, taken in Sire Stakes competition August 10.

That same afternoon, the Somebeachsomewhere-Road Bet colt Cattlewash went a tick faster in winning his Sire Stakes cut; in fact, both of his Sire Stakes wins have come in 1:52.1. Also a Pennsylvania All-Stars divisional winner at Pocono, Cattlewash is just a head away from a perfect career, as he was nipped by Seeyou At Thebeach in their Arden Downs split. Cattlewash will be driven by Yannick Gingras in the third division (race 10) as the pair start from post three for trainer Ron Burke.

The first Sire Stakes division (race three) matches up the other PASS winners from the first two legs: Caliber and Father Nuno. The Sweet Lou-Allstar Rating gelding Caliber, who won in 1:52.1 to tie his Burke Brigade stablemate Cattlewash for fastest clocking in Sire Stakes divisional competition, has a positional edge from post three, with Gingras also slated for sulky action. Father Nuno, a Sombeachsomewhere colt out of Worldly Treasure, must surmount the outside post seven for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Tom Cancelliere.

Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action continues at Pocono on Monday (Aug. 19), with two-year-old trotting fillies invading the mountain oval.

(PHHA/Pocono)