Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings made their first stakes appearances Monday (July 6) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, contesting three $42,857 divisions of their Pennsylvania All-Stars event.

Hungry Marco, a Stay Hungry – Always Giggling colt and thus a three quarter brother to the multiple stakes-winner Gigglingonthebeach, came from Philly to the mountain oval with three successful trips behind the starting gate, a winning qualifier on either side of an overnight triumph, and added a stakes victory to his burgeoning resume in 1:54, the fastest All-Star division.

Hungry Marco was sent to the lead by driver Ridge Warren, set moderate fractions of :28.3, :58.1, and 1:27, then hustled home in :27 to finish out the quickest win in his young career, a half length ahead of closer (:26.3) of Celtic Wine (Colin Kelly) to his right, with pocket-sitter Loud Luxury (Tyler Buter) just another neck behind to his left. Jamie Sullivan conditions the talented colt for the triumvirate of David Hamm of Dagsboro, DE, Glenn Phillips of Frankford, DE, and Frank Chick of Harrington, DE.

The Sweet Lou – Captiva Island colt Gobstopper became the only successful stakes winning favourite on Monday when he defeated Hard Four in 1:54.1 for his first winning mile. Gobstopper tailed Hard Four, who came uncovered after early splits of :28.3 and :58.2 before getting a short lead by the 1:26.4 three quarters; the winner then paced his individual last quarter in :27.1 to catch the game first-over by a head. Anthony Napolitano was in the sulky for trainer Michael Deters and owner Rick Berks of Paris, KY.

Dapper Station, a double-qualifier winner before a good second in his betting bow, made the lead before the :28.3 quarter in his section, then pushed favoured Midwind Buxton before yielding for the two-hole during middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.1. Dapper Station vacated the golden chair and put in his own last split of :27.1 to complete a 1:54.3 mile (the track was still rated “good” before being rerated to ”fast” for the other All-Stars cuts) a neck to the good of the chalk while rewriting his own lifetime best. The Captain Crunch – Dandys Sweetness gelding was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Hunter Oakes and the ownership of H O Racing Inc. of Bear Creek Township, PA, Louis Peachey of Rebersberg, PA, and Tribbett Racing of Denton, MD.

The overnight feature was a $28,571 fast-class trot, taken by Celebrity Bambino in 1:52.2 (fast track), his second straight triumph after some behavioral troubles. Here Celebrity Bambino made two moves then withstood late-flyer Super Duper Cooper by a half length for the familiar pairing of driver Tyler Buter and trainer Ron Burke, both leading their standings at this meet, and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA, J&T Silva Stables LLC of Jericho, NY, Knox Services Inc. of Mount Vernon, OH, and Phil Collura of Mountain Top, PA.

An intriguing and popular exhibition race was arranged by trainer Brandy Wine and driver Braxten Boyd, who are expecting a child – a “match race” between “Momma’s Boy” and “Daddy’s Girl,” outfitted in blue and pink respectively, with the winner announcing to the world whether the baby was to be a boy or a girl. “Momma’s Boy” hit the wire first, with many members of the happy families, friends and members of the Pocono community joining the expectant parents in the winners circle after the novel event.

Tyler Buter brought home five winners on the card to further extend his driving lead, with George Napolitano Jr. winning four times (#8 in the all-time sulky standings, George is now three victories shy of the 13,000 milestone) and Ridge Warren reporting home first three times (not counting his “success” behind “Momma’s Boy”). Enrico Robinson had the only training double, both driven by “George Nap.”

The 1 p.m. card on Tuesday (July 7) at Pocono brings an end to this racing week.

(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs; Photo of Hungry Marco)