It wasn’t a good night for the favourites in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Sunday night. All three divisions, each of which carried a purse of $79,816, for three-year-old colts and geldings on the trot were won by horses who weren’t the top betting choice.
In the first division, Valley Of Sin, the 4-1 second choice, made a big three-wide move on the backstretch to get to the front and then held off favourite High Bridge in the stretch for the victory in 1:54.1. Mike Wilder was in the bike for trainer John Butenschoen. High Bridge had to settle for second while All Laid Out picked up the show. Valley Of Sin won his second straight at Pocono.
Dontyouforgetit was the 9-2 third choice in the second Sire Stakes division, but he blew by favourite Smoother Ride in the stretch after a pocket trip for the win in 1:54.1. Yannick Gingras drove for trainer Jimmy Takter. Smoother Ride was second and Spider Blue Chip third. Dontyouforgetuit now has wins in back-to-back races after a win at The Meadows in his previous start.
In the final Sire Stakes split, 9-2 shot Celebrity Maserati overcame the outside post thanks to a furious stretch rally to victory in 1:54.4. Tom Jackson was in the bike for trainer Susanne Strandqvist. Aperfectyankee finished second while Picture This got the show. Celebrity Maserati bounced back from his first loss of the season and now has won four of five in 2013.
Form held in Sunday night’s other featured race at Pocono, as 7-5 favourite Drop The Ball grinded first over and wore down Radar Contact to win by a neck in 1:50.1 in a $25,000 Preferred Pace for mares. Corey Callahan did the driving for trainer Ross Croghan. Romantic Moment finished third. It was the first win of the year for Drop The Ball, who had been in three rugged stakes races in a row prior to her journey to Pocono.
(Pocono Downs)