Another C Note remained unbeaten in five seasonal starts as he posted a 1:52.2 mile in one of four $41,096 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars event for sophomore pacing males held on a cool, rainy afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Saturday, May 9.
The colt by Captaintreacherous, who sired three of the four All-Stars winners, sat second for Tyler Buter most of the way as Thai Hanover (Jeremy Indof) hustled to the top and put out splits of :27.1, :56.4 (stiff headwind in quarter two Saturday) and 1:24.2. Having paid $60.40 to win in his seasonal debut at the mountain oval but here knocked down to a dime on the dollar, Another C Note may have given his backers a bit of a flutter when sitting in nearing the far turn as Spunky Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and Papi Rick (Andrew McCarthy) moved up two-wide. But the chalk was able to angle to the Pocono Pike and put up a neck decision on Papi Rick, with Spunky Hanover just another neck off. Another C Note, out of Kate Cant Wait, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC along with Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Stephen Dillon. The Burke trainee is now eight-for-17 lifetime. He paid $2.20 to win.
The race was the second in a row won on this card by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC along with driver Tyler Buter and trainer Ron Burke. That earlier race was a farewell to the respected veterinarian and Notre Dame football fan Dr. William Solomon, the breeder of trotter Frank Leahy, who won in the same week that Solomon passed away.
Another C Note's 1:52.2 winning time was equalled in the only All-Stars division not taken by a son of Captaintreacherous, as the Sweet Lou-New Year colt Toast Of The Town ($4.20) came out sharp in his seasonal debut. Todd McCarthy rolled Toast Of The Town right down the road in :28.3, :57.2,and 1:25.1, with the :27.1 kicker enough for the second choice to keep favoured Superchamp Hanover (Matt Kakaley) at bay by 2-1/4 lengths. Good Friday (Andrew McCarthy) was third. Let It Ride Stables Inc. won its second All-Stars division, this time with partners Morrison Racing Stables, Jesmeral Stable and Alberg Racing LLC. Noel Daley conditions the winner, who is now three-for-11 lifetime.
Let It Ride Stables Inc. had another All-Stars victory with one of the other two winning sons of Captaintreacherous, Captain Apple ($6.60). He had his own way early in :28.3 and :58.1 splits, then went on to the three quarters in 1:26.3 en route to a 1:54.2 decision, 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Southwind Spencer (Braxten Boyd). Really Bright (Buter) completed the ticket. Patrick Ryder drove the winner, now five-for-12 lifetime, and trainer Chris Ryder shares ownership in the colt out of Apple Hanover with Let It Ride along with Lisa Ezzo and Alan Johnston.
Captaintreacherous’s third All-Stars siring success came from Treacherous Lou ($3.80) in his seasonal debut. The gelding out of Sweet Lucy Lou rode in the golden chair behind Easy Breeze (Andrew McCarthy) through :27.4, :58 and 1:25.3 splits, then out-kicked that one home by three parts of a length in 1:53.4. Talbot Andretti (Mark Herschberger) was third. Tim Tetrick drove the winning Robert Cleary trainee for Royal Wire Products Inc. Treacherous Lou won for the fourth time in eight lifetime outings.
Another sophomore to follow, the Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers colt Gentlemans Club, made his seasonal debut in a $23,973 overnight contest on the card. Ranked third in the latest Road to the Meadowlands Pace behind undefeated Horse of the Year Beau Jangles and the fastest freshman ever, Odds On Mr Mamba, Gentlemans Club produced a performance befitting of that lofty company for trainer Aaron Lambert and owner Anthony Licastro.
He raced three-wide most of a :26.2 opener, finally cleared under the line the first time, then went on to middle splits of :55.4 and 1:24. Horses were mounting threats from far back, but driver Andrew McCarthy did not look worried that the others may catch the 2025 Governor’s Cup winner in the 1:52.3 mile. Odds On No Limit (Todd McCarthy) closed from seventh for second by 1-1/4 lengths, followed by Heaven Needs Me (Braxten Boyd). Gentlemans Club is now six-for-11 lifetime. He returned $6.40.
Another ultra-impressive 2026 debutant was yet another son of Captaintreacherous, the $1.4 million winner Ken Hanover ($3.40), who took the $37,671 Winners Over Pace. He tucked in mid-pack early after leaving outside a host of speedsters, followed through fractions of :26, :55 and 1:22.2, then roared wide in the stretch and exploded past quality horses with no difficulty in a 1:51 mile. He won by two lengths over Manolete (Andrew McCarthy), with Odds On Wildfire (George Napolitano Jr.) third. Tim Tetrick handled the driving duties on Ken Hanover, now 22-for-59 lifetime, for trainer Rollie Mallar, who co-owns the stallion out of Kjs Justine with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt. Ken Hanover raced in the third-level Invitational (and won) on last year's "Super Sunday" at Pocono, but this year he may get an invitation to the $100,000 USD Auger Memorial, the main event for his group in 15 days.
Trainer Darren Taneyhill, currently on a 32 per cent tear at the northeast Pennsylvania track, harnessed three winners on the 14-race card. His wins came with Greatest Ending ($13), Whiskey Breath ($5) and Cranbourne N ($4), giving him 27 tallies on the season in 85 starts. He is second in the trainers' standings, now four wins behind leader Per Engblom, who has 30.
Several other horsemen proved themselves quite the good “mudders” in the less-than-perfect conditions. Braxten Boyd drove three winners, one more than each of Tyler Buter, Todd McCarthy, Tim Tetrick, and Ridge Warren. Burke picked up a double.
Pennsylvania All-Stars action continues at Pocono on Monday at 1 p.m. with sophomore pacing fillies, including Miss Jum Jabber, who upset the defending divisional champion Loua Dipa in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Harrah's Philadelphia on May 1.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)