Multiple world records fell as Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania hosted many of the biggest stars of harness racing on a stakes-filled Sun Stakes Saturday card on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Super Chapter Breaks World Record In Beal

Super Chapter became the first three-year-old ever to trot a five-eighths-mile track in 1:50 while winning the $416,667 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial (Grade 2) for three-year-old trotters, but Emoticon Legacy pushed the winner to the utmost before failing to hold him off by the smallest possible margin.

Emoticon Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) had the most jet as the gate pulled away, with Super Chapter (Dexter Dunn) starting just inside him from post four and securing the pocket. Emoticon Legacy headed right down the road with fractions of :26.4, :55.3, and 1:23.1, with Super Chapter getting the coveted two-hole trip behind the speedster. 

For a good part of the stretch, it looked like Emoticon Legacy was going to make the ultimate bounce back from a slightly subpar day in the Hambo, as Super Chapter pulled out from the pocket but did not immediately surge right up to the leader. But the victorious Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit colt just kept grinding, and in the shadow of the wire got his nose ahead over his game opponent. Onajetplane (Andrew McCarthy) was third.

Dunn praised Super Chapter after the win.

“He’s a great horse to drive; you can get him into the position you need,” he said. ”It was a tough battle down the stretch, but my colt keeps on fighting, and today he got the job done.”

The 1:50 clocking broke the stakes and track record of 1:50.2 set by Father Patrick in 2014. In addition to Father Patrick, filly Mission Brief (2015) and gelding Amigo Volo (2020) also set their divisional world records going in 1:50.2. But Super Chapter added another, super chapter to both his own story and the world record tables.

Super Chapter, trained by Marcus Melander for Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti, and Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., pushed his seasonal totals to six wins in seven starts. The Hanover-bred colt was won 11 of 18 lifetime and has banked $1,679,102. He returned $2.40 to win.

In the $277,778 Beal Consolation I, Fashion Green worked his way to the lead at the quarter in :27.1, put up :56.1 and 1:23.4 middle splits, then had enough to withstand the game first-over Happy Jack B (Ake Svanstedt) by a half-length while equalling his mark of 1:52.2. Hey Porter (Scott Zeron) completed the triactor. The winning Greenshoe-Fashion Athena gelding, driven by Tim Tetrick for Jim Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC, improved his lifetime record to eight-for-nine.

Frank Leahy yielded to sit in the two-hole in the $138,889 Beal Consolation II, then moved inside for the stretch drive to catch pacesetting stablemate Cheers Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) by a head while taking a new mark of 1:52.4. Yannick Gingras drove the winner, and Ron Burke trained the top two finishers. Blank (Andrew McCarthy) finished third. The victorious Southwind Frank-Regal Woman colt is owned by Ben Mondello LLC and FAC Racing LLC.

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Dandy Ideal Sharp In Hempt Memorial

Dandy Ideal out-duelled Rick Wink to get the lead in the opening quarter and remained on top from there to take his fifth straight win in the $416,667 Max C. Hempt Memorial (Grade 2) for three-year-old male pacers in 1:48.2.

Jason Bartlett got Dandy Ideal to the front in a :25.4 first quarter, then reached the half in :54.3 and three quarters in 1:21. Prince Hal Hanover and driver Todd McCarthy made a first-over bid from third just past the half, but they were unable to get to the leader on the last turn. Yannick Gingras guided Rick Wink out of the pocket in the stretch, but Dandy Ideal had enough in the tank to hold on by a half-length for the victory. Rick Wink finished second, and Manolete (Scott Zeron) rallied on the inside to take third.

Bartlett said speed was the plan.

“I was pretty intent on cutting it out,” he said. “I used him a little bit hard the first eighth, and then kind of rode through the turn a little bit; we were pacing pretty fast. But he’s a really good horse and has been great the last four or five starts. This was not surprising to me.”

Dandy Ideal finished second by a head to Twisted Destiny in the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes on June 27, then won a conditioned race at Pocono in 1:48.2 and added three straight victories on the New York Sire Stakes circuit prior to the Hempt. 

“I know he belongs with these horses,” Bartlett said. “So, for me, I have all the confidence in the world in him.”

Dandy Ideal, trained by Hunter Oakes, is owned by Susan Oakes, Thaddeus Wier, and Alan Johnston. The son of American Ideal-Ok Heavenly was bred by Stephen Dey III and Dandy Farms Inc. He has won five of 10 races this year and 10 of 20 lifetime, with career earnings of $703,871.

The gelding paid $13.20 as the 5-1 third choice behind Prince Hal Hanover and Twisted Destiny.

The Stay Hungry-Bridge To Tomorrow gelding Snack Attack blew up the tote board with a 1:50.4 triumph in the $277,778 Hempt Consolation I, paying $98 to win. After sitting the two-hole through :26.3, :55.1, and and 1:22.3 splits, Bartlett backed out of the pocket late on the far turn for clearance, then swung wide and got the job done in a lifetime-best clocking for Snack Attack. Joe Bongiorno trains the five-time winner in 19 lifetime appearances for owners Philip Steinberg, Joe Sbrocco, and JAF Racing LLC. Thirsty Thursday (Dexter Dunn) made a brief break on the final turn and caused interference; he rebounded to cross the wire second but was placed back to seventh. Wedlock Blue Chip (Dave Miller) was promoted to second with Primo Maschio (Trae Porter) third.

Sitting seventh early in the stretch is not prime real estate at Pocono, but the Papi Rob Hanover-Freakonomics gelding Makes Sense, mired behind excess cover, found himself in that position in the $138,889 Hempt Consolation II. Fortunately for the Robert Cleary trainee, the pace had been quite contested, and driver James MacDonald got a nice rally from Makes Sense to pick up Joel And The Jets (Todd McCarthy) and prevail by a half-length in 1:50.4. Let It Ride Stables Inc., Celtic Racing, and Carl Howard own the winner.

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Yo Tillie Stays Perfect In Delmonica Hanover

The Tactical Landing-Consolidator filly Yo Tillie survived a rough early journey and was hard-used to make the front but kept trotting strongly to win her sixth race in an undefeated season by taking the $347,222 Delmonica Hanover (Grade 1) for three-year-old trotting fillies in a stakes- and track-record 1:51.2.

Hambletonian Oaks winner Conversano (James MacDonald) left well, as did Delaney Hanover (Scott Zeron); the latter hit the top before a :27.2 quarter, then kept the winner out in the air for most of the next quarter, with Yo Tillie reaching the half on top in :55.4.

Conversano came first-over before the 1:23.2 three quarters, but the overland route took its toll, and Delaney Hanover provided the major stretch danger. That filly picked up a few inches on the winner, but Yo Tillie was in control, winning by three parts of a length while making driver Todd McCarthy the first two-time winner in the Delmonica Hanover’s five-year history. Hangover (Dexter Dunn) finished third.

“I was actually glad when I heard that she would be starting from post six (after What A Bid Hanover was scratched) – six is a lot easier than seven,” said winning trainer Andrew Harris after the race. “She’s a professional now. She used to get a little fired-up before the race, but she’s learned and is easier that way now.”

The 1:51.2 clocking shaved a tick off the stakes record first set by Joviality S in 2022 and tied by Warrawee Michelle last year. Those two had also shared the track record with Check Me Out (2012), Designed To Be (2014), and Lasting Dream (who tied the record in a consolation earlier in the day).

Yo Tillie, owned by Harris along with William Pollock and Bruce Areman, now has career earnings of $815,970, with 14 wins in 18 starts. She was bred by GBW Breeding Farms Inc. and Black Creek Farm.

Sent off as the 2-5 favourite, Yo Tillie paid $2.80 to win.

The $173,611 Delmonica Hanover Consolation I proved to be an easy victory for the Father Patrick-The Ice Dutchess filly R Dutchess, who was ready after 21 days away and came within a fifth of her mark, posting a 1:52.2 clocking. She and Tim Tetrick made a frontward move in front of the stands after a :27.2 quarter, controlled the pace with :55.4 and 1:23.4 panels, and the filly continued on impressively to romp by five lengths for trainer John Butenschoen and lessee M And L of Delaware/Armitage Farm. She has won five of 18 career outings. Shes A Shoe In (James MacDonald) was second-best over Mocha Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). 

In the $104,167 Delmonica Hanover Consolation II, the Cantab Hall-Dream Together filly Lasting Dream got the day off to a fast start, equalling the Pocono divisional track record in a 1:51.3 effort with two speed moves for driver Louis-Philippe Roy. Trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination saw their filly become the fifth of her class to go in 1:51.3 at Pocono. That track record lasted under four hours, as Yo Tillie lowered it by a fifth in the main Delmonica Hanover event. Champagne Problems (Dexter Dunn) was a length back in second, followed by Jersey Slide (Braxten Boyd).

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Miki And Minnie Stays Hot In Lynch Memorial

Dexter Dunn pulled Miki And Minnie out of the pocket in the stretch to overtake pacesetter Chantilly nearing the finish line and capture the $347,222 James M. Lynch Memorial (Grade 1) for three-year-old filly pacers in 1:49.1. 

It was the long-awaiting first meeting between Miki And Minnie, the 2024 Dan Patch Award winner for best two-year-old filly pacer, and Chantilly, Canada’s 2024 Horse of the Year. They were slated to meet in the Fan Hanover Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park in June, but Chantilly was scratched due to sickness.

On Saturday, Chantilly and driver James MacDonald left quickly from post six and rolled to a :25.4 opening quarter on the lead. Miki And Minnie, who started from post two, took up the pocket position behind Chantilly, followed by Rodeo Drive Deo (Dave Miller). The order remained unchanged as Chantilly reached the half in :55, and she was unchallenged to three-quarters in 1:22.1. Dunn tipped Miki And Minnie to the outside momentarily on the last turn but then returned to the pocket until the head of the stretch.

Once Dunn asked Miki And Minnie to go, she worked her way to the front as part of a :26.4 last quarter, defeating Chantilly by three-quarters of a length. Rodeo Drive Deo was third.

Miki And Minnie's trainer, Chris Ryder, praised the filly's staying power after the race.

“Yes, I was a little nervous,” Ryder said about the matchup. “I figured (Chantilly) might beat us out of the gate, and what would happen after that was up to Dexter. But (Miki And Minnie) got out of the gate well enough to get a good spot, and she’s just got a lot of heart.

“I think I know my filly fairly well; she’s a grinder. She’s not the fastest filly, maybe, for actual quick speed, but she can hold whatever speed she’s got. She just keeps it going. She’s got a big heart and a great set of lungs, and she always finds the wire. She’s fantastic. It’s just a great result. It’s a real thrill.”

Miki And Minnie is now eight-for-nine this season. She has hit the board in all 20 of her career races, with 14 wins and $1,864,867 in earnings. The daughter of Always B Miki-Thats The Ticket is owned by breeders Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz.

Ranked number one in the current Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, Miki And Minnie has won nine of her past 10 starts dating back to her Breeders Crown triumph in October. Her only defeat was by a head in June.

Chantilly, who was unbeaten in nine races last season, took just her second career defeat in the mile.

“Chantilly went a great race,” Ryder said. “It was a matchup we were looking for, I believe. Let’s do it again.”

Miki And Minnie, the 1-2 favourite, paid $3 to win.

Favoured Gigglingonthebeach went a :26.2 quarter to get by Westwinds (Todd McCarthy) early, set fractions of :55.2 and 1:22.3, then still had enough to stave off potential pocket rocket Westwinds while coming home in :27.2 to win the $173,611 Lynch Consolation I by a neck in a career-best 1:50. Driver James MacDonald and trainer Juan Cano, a hot combination in recent weeks, teamed up for the win with the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Always Giggling, who is now five-for-15 lifetime for owner Hot Lead Farm. Pilar Hanover (Tim Tetrick) was third.

The Tall Dark Stranger-Treacherous Reign filly Perfidious Crown was alertly hustled into the three-hole early by Pocono’s leading driver, Tyler Buter, then found room up the famed Pocono Pike and responded with a sharp burst to take the $104,167 Lynch Consolation II by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.4. Tony Alagna trains the winner (along with second-place finisher Simply Perfect). She is owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Alagna Racing LLC, and Big Als Stables. Lily White Hanover (Todd McCarthy) rounded out the top three.

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Warrawee Michelle Sets World Record In Sebastian K

Warrawee Michelle won the $138,889 Sebastian K Invitational (Grade 3) for older trotters in 1:50, becoming the fastest four-year-old trotter ever on a five-eighths-mile track and giving trainer Ake Svanstedt his third consecutive victory in the event named after one of his former stars.

Hillexotic and driver Matt Kakaley went to the lead and set fractions of :26.3 to the quarter and :55 to the half before Svanstedt and Warrawee Michelle began a first-over march from fourth on the backstretch. Hillexotic remained in control at three-quarters in 1:21.4, but he was unable to fend off Warrawee Michelle in the stretch as she came home with a race-best :27.4 last quarter to win by three-quarters of a length. Sir Pinocchio finished third.

Warrawee Michelle entered the Sebastian K Invitational following second-place finishes in the Hambletonian Maturity and Dr. John R. Steele Memorial and a win in the Graduate Series Final, all at The Meadowlands.

Svanstedt said his mare is trending up.

“She has raced good her last four or five races, and she has top form now,” he said. “This was the first time I drove her (first-over) like this, but I didn’t have any choice. She was really strong. She has been tough this year. She is much more tough than last year."

Warrawee Michelle has two wins and three seconds in seven races this season. For her career, the daughter of Walner-Sound Check has won nine of 26 starts and earned $1,552,147. She is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc., and Young Guns. She was bred by Warrawee Farm.

Svanstedt won the 2024 Sebastian K Invitational with Jiggy Jog S and the 2023 edition with Southwind Tyrion. The race is named after the Svanstedt-trained and -driven Sebastian K, who as an eight-year-old set the overall world record of 1:49 on a five-eighths-mile track in 2014 at Pocono.

The previous fastest mile by a four-year-old on a five-eighths, 1:50.1, was shared by mare Manchego and gelding Homicide Hunter. Warrawee Michelle’s time also was the fastest ever in the Sebastian K, besting Atlanta’s 1:50.1 triumph in 2021 at age six.

Sent off as the 2-5 favourite, Warrawee Michelle paid $2.80 to win.

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Captain Albano On Top In Always B Miki Invitational

Captain Albano and driver Todd McCarthy went to the front and never looked back, winning the $138,889 Always B Miki Invitational (Grade 3) over Coaches Corner in 1:48.2. 

Captain Albano set fractions of :26, :55.1, and 1:21.4 and held off the closing Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett) by a half-length for the victory. Ken Hanover (Dave Miller) finished third.

With the win, Captain Albano snapped a string of three consecutive fourth-place finishes, all by less than three lengths, in the Sam McKee Memorial, William R. Haughton Memorial, and Graduate Series Final. Prior to that, the four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Angelou stallion won a Graduate leg and was second by a nose in another. A Dan Patch Award winner at ages two and three for trainer Noel Daley, Captain Albano has won 21 of 33 career races and earned $2,190,230.

McCarthy said he was pleased to see the stallion bounce back.

“His last start (in the McKee) was probably his only disappointing one,” he said. “We were kind of baffled by it. Every other start, I’ve been really happy with him coming back so far. Full credit to Noel, he had him back spot-on today. That was a pretty big mile for him today, and he did it well.”

McCarthy was happy to let Captain Albano do all the work on the front Saturday.

“I was going to leave it up to him and see how he felt to me,” said McCarthy, who won the Always B Miki for the fourth time. “When he feels good, he takes hold of the bit and wants to go. That’s what he did for me today, and I was happy to go with him.

“He’s one of those horses that continues to get better throughout the season. Hopefully, this is a good turning point for us, and we can go onwards and upwards from here.”

Captain Albano is owned by Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing Inc., and Michael Dolan. He was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Captain Albano paid $7.40 to win.

The total handle on the card was $1,016,208.

The livestream replay of Sun Stakes Saturday, courtesy of the PHHA, is available below.

(PHHA/Pocono)