Father Patrick’s sophomore season picked up where his two-year-old campaign left off, as the trotting superstar coasted to an easy win in a $37,262 division of the Dickerson Cup in the Historic Series on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Facing five other three-year-old colts and geldings as the 1-9 favourite, Father Patrick (Cantab Hall-Gala Dream), winner of 10 of 11 as a two-year-old including the Breeders Crown final, easily made the front end on the front stretch and never had an anxious moment from there. The three-year-old star from the Jimmy Takter barn won by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3 without driver Yannick Gingras ever lifting a finger. Amped Up Hanover was best of the rest in second and Marathon Man picked up the show.

"[I] couldn't be happier with Father Patrick," said Gingras, via Twitter, after the O'Brien Award winner's season debut. "He was great and had plenty left."

In the other Dickerson Cup division held at Pocono on Wednesday night, Auspicious Hanover (Andover Hall-Above All Hanover) took advantage of a late break by leader It Really Matters and picked up the victory in 1:54.1. Driven and trained by Charlie Norris, Auspicious Hanover was the longest shot on the board at 14-1 and broke his maiden with the win. Dony Andreas finished second and It Really Matters held on for the show.

(With files from Pocono Downs)