Pennsylvania All-Stars action for freshman trotting colts and geldings took place on Monday afternoon (July 6) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and Marcus Melander trainees won two of the afternoon's three $30,000 divisions.

The faster of Melander's two winners was In Range, who is a Bar Hopping colt that is out of Ilia (the dam of $400K+ winners Tight Lines and Long Tom). Tim Tetrick hustled the freshman away from the rail, kept him in line when he suffered some 'Pocono paddock greenness' coming off the first turn (where the Pocono paddock is), yielded to stablemate Incentive for the pocket, then came up the inside in the stretch to catch his barnmate by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:55.1. The fast freshman is owned by AMG Stable Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren, Tomas Asell, and Rick Wahlstadt.

The other Melander victory went to Bidensky, who is a Father Patrick colt that is out of Southern Senorita (dam of millionaire Guccio). Bidensky stopped the timer in 1:55.3. Marcus’ younger brother, Mattias, was willing to keep Bidensky three-wide most of the first turn in order to get the lead, and he maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way. The late-closing Tart Tongue got as close as one and a quarter lengths away at the finish. Bidensky is owned by Brixton Medical Inc.

Both the Melander youngsters were betting favourites, while the third winner, Southwind Mazzarati, rewarded his backers with an 11-1 payoff. The Southwind Frank colt that is out of Alix Hall (dam of the $900K+ winner Flex The Muscle) got the lead at the quarter under Andrew McCarthy’s handling, rated a 1:00 middle half, then sprinted home in :28.4 to complete a 1:58.2 mile. Arnold N Dicky finished second and was beaten by one and a half lengths. Southwind Mazzarati, who is trained by Lucas Wallin, is co-owned by his trainer (as Mazza Racing Stables LLC) and Stormi And Bruiser Stables.

Driver Tyler Buter had four wins on the card, one of them with Wild Bill, a son of Somebeachsomewhere – Wild West Show, making him a full brother to world champion Huntsville. The long-memoried may recall that this horse showed the potential of a world-beater at the dawn of his career in mid-2017, but fate has not been kind to him until today, when he rushed to the lead at the half and went on to victory in a lifetime best 1:50.2. It’s hard to believe that the promising baby here achieved just the sixth triumph of his career, but maybe now is his time for owner/trainer Ray Schnittker.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono)