Pearson Hanover, trained and driven by Rina Rekila, won a $20,000 division of The Stallion Series Saturday, June 12 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The victory also was the first in the United States and sixth straight for Pearson Hanover
.
Rekila was sitting fourth at the three-quarter mark before beating 17-1 longshot Photo King (Andrew McCarthy) with 2-5 favourite Southwind Nitro (Tony Morgan) going off stride near the wire and finishing third in the race.
The three trotters were right across the track with Pearson Hanover outside of Southwind Nitro with Photo King holding just a slight lead on the inside.
Pearson Hanover previously had won five straight in Ontario.
TSM Photo Bugger (Kevin Sizer) was another winner of the six stakes races, stopping the timer in 2:00.1. Race favourite Most Wanted Lindy, at 2-5 with George Napolitano Jr. in the sulky, finished second but was placed seventh for interference near the three-eighths pole while on the front end.
Most Wanted Lindy took the field to the opening quarter in :29.1 and half in 1:02.
Benefitting from the placements were Fashion Biceps, second, and Mystican, third.
Cross Island King, trained by Jim Campbell and driven by Matt Kakaley, broke his maiden by winning another division of The Stallion Series with a time of 1:57. Eggipus Complex (Napolitano Jr.) was second in this race with Marquesas (D.R. Ackerman) third.
Wygant Prince (Mike Simons) made it three straight at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in winning another division as a 20-1 longshot. Wygant Prince won two straight at the track back in May before three starts in a late closer at Tioga Downs.
Overcoming the seven post, Wygant Prince got a two-hole trip behind 1-5 favourite Ellisarro Hanover (Joe Pavia Jr.) and stopped the clock in 1:57. Ellisarro Hanover finished second while Hoboken Sonny (Jack Parker Jr.) was third.
Park Way (1:58) and Pretty Boy Lindy (1:57), both driven by Jim Morrill, Jr., won the final two divisions.
Pavia Jr. piloted Golden Receiver to a win the $24,000 Open Handicap Pace from the eight post. Pavia Jr. got the two-hole trip behind favourite OK Braveheat (Morrill Jr.) and came charging up the passing lane (Pocono Pike) to nip OK Braveheart with the timer reading 1:50.2.
Larry Stalbaum collected two more wins to reach 3,999 wins in his career during the 16-race card.
(With files from Pocono Downs)