After checking the updated season’s leaders list for five-eighths-mile tracks, it can be noted that the fastest two-year-old on the trot and the co-fastest two-year-old on the pace both competed during two-year-old qualifying races at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Wednesday morning (June 20).
The fastest trotter among the 'babies' is a filly named Check Out Trixie, who trotted in 1:57.4 (back half :57.2). The filly is a product of a mating between Hambletonian winner Trixton and Check Me Out, the multiple record holder. Trainer/driver Ray Schnittker moved Check Out Trixie to the lead in front of the grandstand and there was little doubt from there. Check Out Trixie also bettered the 1:58.1 mile that was put in by colt Fashion Possessed at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Tuesday (June 19).
Tying for top honours among the two-year-old pacers – and setting the standard for colts – was Lyons Night Hawk, a son of Sweet Lou and Weapons Against (she a half-sister to $2.4M winner and top sire A Rocknroll Dance). Lyons Night Hawk rallied from the pocket with a :27.4 kicker to complete a 1:53.4 mile, which matched the clocking registered by Rose Run Uptowngal in a pari-mutuel race at The Meadows on June 19. Jason Bartlett guided the winner for trainer Gareth Dowse.
The first freshman heat yielded the day’s fastest pacing filly in the Well Said filly Serena Said, who was home first in 1:55.1 (:57.1 - :28.2). Out of the mare Selinass Joy, a half-sister to $1.5M winner Shadow Play, Serena Said won for driver Corey Callahan and trainer John Butenschoen.
The quickest trotting colt of the session was Our White Knight, whose parents’ names might suggest some confusion (Crazed-Psychotherapist), but who knew how to make every pole a winning one for driver Corey Callahan and trainer John Butenschoen, as he won in 2:00.2 with back numbers of :58.3 – :29.1. The winner is a full brother to $600K winner Theraputic.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)