A total of 10 two-year-old qualifying races went postward Wednesday morning (June 19) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and many well-bred performers turned in solid performances.
Charlie Norris’ stable finished ‘1-2-3’ in the fastest of three contests for trotting fillies, as the Chapter Seven – Fraction miss Reciprocalbluechip sat in the pocket behind stablemate Sweet Sofie T, then came on to catch her by a nose in 1:59. Matt Kakaley was in the sulky behind Reciprocalbluechip, whose dam is a half-sister to Donato Hanover, for Carrie Norris, M T Pockets Stables, Acadia Farms, and G And B Racing.
Cherry Red also took advantage of a pocket journey to notch the quickest time among the three divisions for trotting males, as he won in 2:00.1 (with back fractions of :59.2 - :29.3). The colt is by Deweycheatumnhowe and is out of Cherry Lane, who can trace back through the generations to the likes of Keystone Sister and Stenographer. Cherry Red was driven by Mark MacDonald for trainer Ray Schnittker and owner/breeders Joseph and Christine Di Nicola.
Gelding Kyrie Deo set a North American season’s mark for his class with a wire-to-wire victory in 2:00.2 (:58.4 - :29.1). Tyler Buter, who has been red-hot at ‘The Downs’ as of late, handled the freshman. Kyrie Deo is a son of Donato Hanover out of Rare Book, who has millionaire Windsong Soprano and Armbro Blush not far back in her lineage. Kyrie Deo is trained by John Butenschoen for owners Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc., David Miller, and James Crawford IV.
Trainer/driver Gareth Dowse made a sweep of the two contests for pacing colts with a pair of first-time starters. The faster winner was Diamond Head, who vacated the pocket to record the victory in 1:55.2 (he paced his own back half in :56.1). The son of Somebeachsomewhere – Artchitecture, who is a half-brother to millionaire Rock N Soul, is owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Matthew Dugan, and Robert Rosato.
(Left to Right) Diamond Head, Speaking Of Coffee and Reciprocalbluechip, pictured after their June 19 qualifiers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (Images courtesy Pocono)
Diamond Head’s victorious stablemate is the A Rocknroll Dance – Mcgibson colt Lyons Music, a three-quarter brother to Boston Red Rocks, who was in front all the way in 1:58.2 (:57.1 - :28.2 coming home).
In the races for pacing fillies, Speaking Of Coffee was a pocket rocket and recorded the fastest of the two win times via a 1:57 performance. The daughter of Artspeak, the first foal of $487K-winning dam Coffee Addict, was driven by Tom Jackson for trainer Justin Lebo and owners James Clarke Sr. and Andrew Altobelli.
Rodeo Beach, who is a Somebeachsomewhere – Wild West Show full sister to Huntsville, has now gone behind the gate twice and both times reached the wire first in 1:57.1 – first at the Meadowlands Racetrack and now at Pocono. She is driven by Mark MacDonald and trained by Ray Schnittker.
Trainer/drivers Gareth Dowse and Åke Svanstedt, and the pairing of driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker, scored honours during the morning session with two juvenile victories apiece.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)