North America Cup eligible Dandy Ideal headlined the Wednesday morning, May 28 qualifiers at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Dandy Ideal won his last four starts of 2024, including the Matron Stakes, then won two qualifiers in preparation for his 2025 debut in a New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga Raceway, where he made a break. But the American Ideal-Ok Heavenly gelding showed that his ship was quickly righted by winning in 1:50.3 on the engine for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Hunter Oakes and owners Flying A Racing Stable, Thaddeus Wier and Alan Johnston. He clocked fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.2 with :26.1 final frame in a race of his own, finishing 11-3/4 lengths ahead of Downrightdelicious and Rock The Belles.
Dandy Ideal is ranked 14th at odds of 38-1 in TROT Magazine's 2025 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
Bartlett, North America’s leading driver in terms of both victories and earnings, won four of the five qualifiers on Wednesday morning.
The Googoo Gaagaa-Luv U All three-year-old trotting filly R Cee Cee, a full sister to millionaire Captain Corey, may not last as a maiden very far into her 2025 campaign based on a 1:57.1 victory in which she stepped her last panel in :28.2 for Bartlett, trainer John Butenschoen and lessees M&L Delaware / Armitage Farm.
Captain Moore A made his first North American appearance a memorable one, with the pacer posting a 1:53.2 engine tally for Bartlett, trainer Scott Blackler and owner Chad Kowal.
Bartlett also won with seasoned trotter Frank The Elder in 1:54.3 for trainer Deborah Daguet and owner Stephen Klunowski.
Pocono’s leading driver and trainer, Tyler Buter and Ron Burke, were the forces behind the other winner in the morning session, the trotter Gone Goodbye, who reported home first in 1:58.2.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono; photo of Dandy Ideal from a previous win)