Post positions have been drawn for the $2.12-million ‘Sun Stakes Saturday Championship,’ which will take place this coming Saturday (June 30) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The $300,000 James Lynch Pace Championship for sophomore fillies (Race 9) will be the first of four consecutive final. The $500,000 Max C. Hempt Pace Championship for three-year-old male pacers has been carded as Race 10. The $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace Championship for free-for-allers will head postward for Race 11. The $500,000 Earl Beal Trot, an open event for three-year-olds, has been programmed as Race 12.
There was sufficient interest to warrant scheduling $75,000 consolation events for the Hempt (Race 2), Franklin (Race 4), and Beal (Race 7).
$300,000 JAMES LYNCH PACE CHAMPIONSHIP
(Stakes record 1:49.2, shared by American Jewel [2012], Fancy Desire [2014], and Pure Country [2016])
The horses that put in the most demanding performances last week had varying luck at the post draw: two of them drew the 1-2, while the other drew the outside Post 9.
Youaremycandygirl looked to be back to her 2017 divisional championship-winning form during her elim, as she won in 1:51.3 – although only by a neck over Ron Burke stablemate Double A Mint (who has drawn Post 7). It seems like Youaremycandygirl should be able to utilize her speed from Post 2. Yannick Gingras has again been scheduled for sulky duty. Burke has a third filly in the race, Sansovina Hanover.
The other elimination went even faster, 1:51.1, and it was taken by Kissin In The Sand by a half length over Sidewalk Dancer. Although, for the Lynch Championship, ‘Kissin’ has been unlucky enough to draw Post 9, and will have a hard time getting a good trip for trainer Nancy Johansson, although the hot-driving Scott Zeron will certainly try. The horse she beat by a half-length, Sidewalk Dancer, will make a move in from Post 8 to Post 1 for driver Brett Miller and trainer Chris Oakes (she was outside a long way to get the lead only to be overhauled late – certainly a better trip seems likely for her).
JAMES LYNCH PACE CHAMPIONSHIP
1, Sidewalk Dancer, Chris Oakes, Brett Miller
2, Youaremycandygirl, Ron Burke, Yannick Gingras
3, Serene Stride, Mark Harder, Corey Callahan
4, Sansovina Hanover, Ron Burke, Louis-Philippe Roy
5, Im Trigger Happy, Ross Croghan, David Miller
6, Alexas Power, Jim Campbell, Tim Tetrick
7, Double A Mint, Ron Burke, Matt Kakaley
8, Hypnotic Tale, Linda Toscano, David Miller
9, Kissin In The Sand, Nancy Johansson, Scott Zeron
$500,000 MAX C. HEMPT PACE CHAMPIONSHIP (Race 10) (Stakes record 1:47.3, McWicked, 2014)
All pre-race conversation about the Hempt Championship will likely start with Lather Up, although the colt has drawn the not-so-easy Post 7 for the nine-horse field. Lather Up was probably the most impressive performer in the Sun Stakes Saturday eliminations, as he started from Post 7, made the lead, and then powered off in the stretch – with plenty appearing to still be in the tank – while winning in 1:49 for driver Montrell Teague. Lather Up is seven-for-seven this year for trainer Clyde Francis.
The other two elimination winners have drawn more favourable starting spots and will be conceding nothing to the likely favourite. Hitman Hill will have Post 2 for trainer Chris Oakes and driver Brett Miller off a wire-to-wire win in 1:49.3. Dorsoduro Hanover, who won in 1:49.4 last week for trainer Ron Burke and driver Matt Kakaley, will start from Post 4.
MAX C. HEMPT PACE CHAMPIONSHIP
1, Nutcracker Sweet, Jimmy Takter, David Miller
2, Hitman Hill, Chris Oakes, Brett Miller
3, Springsteen, Rene Allard, Simon Allard
4, Dorsoduro Hanover, Ron Burke, Matt Kakaley
5, Stay Hungry, Tony Alagna, Doug McNair
6, Shnitzledosomething, Dylan Davis, Yannick Gingras
7, Lather Up, Clyde Francis, Montrell Teague
8, Wes Delight, Mark Harder, Corey Callahan
9, This Is The Plan, Chris Ryder, Tim Tetrick
Consolation: Probably the most highly-regarded consolation horse who didn’t make his way to his final, Done Well, will have no easy time of it in this event. He must surmount the outside Post 9 for trainer Brian Brown and driver Tim Tetrick. Courtly Choice can be tougher with the switch from Post 8 to Post 4.
$500,000 BEN FRANKLIN PACE CHAMPIONSHIP (Race 11) (Stakes record 1:47, shared by Sweet Lou [2014] and Always B Miki [2016])
McWicked – who won the Hempt Pace Championship in 2014 in a time of 1:47.3, which still stands as the stakes record – will head into the Franklin Championship as the likely chalk after a series of powerhouse off-the-pace performances in 2018 (including his elimination win last week in 1:48.3, which was the fastest of the three elim races). Although Pocono is generally not a ‘closers’ track, McWicked has drawn Post 2, from which he can work out good race placement for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Brian Sears.
Heaven Rocks A, a champion in his native Down Under and an emerging force on the North American scene, has drawn Post 4 for trainer Ross Croghan and driver David Miller off his 1:49.3 elim win – and he may not have found his best stride in the U.S. yet. The other elimination offered more questions than answers: Sintra, the favourite, crossed the wire first in 1:48.4, but was placed back for a violation of the pylons rule in the stretch, which elevated All Bets Off to first and the title of ‘longshot of the elims’ (at a $9.00 mutuel). All Bets Off will start from Post 5 for trainer Ron Burke (who qualified three for the Franklin finale) and driver Matt Kakaley. Sintra will have to contend with Post 7 for trainer David Menary and driver Jody Jamieson.
BEN FRANKLIN PACE CHAMPIONSHIP
1, Macs Jackpot, Jeffrey Smith, Brett Miller
2, McWicked, Casie Coleman, Brian Sears
3, Donttellmeagain, Jim King Jr., Tim Tetrick
4, Heaven Rocks A, Ross Croghan, David Miller
5, All Bets Off, Ron Burke, Matt Kakaley
6, Rockin Ron, Ron Burke, Louis-Philippe Roy
7, Sintra, David Menary, Jody Jamieson
8, Filibuster Hanover, Ron Burke, Yannick Gingras
9, Western Fame, Jimmy Takter, Andrew McCarthy
Consolation: The horses in the Franklin Consolation have among them 205 lifetime wins and $9,825,733 in earnings, and an average mark of 1:48.1 – and this is the consolation! Mach It So may be well regarded from the rail after having set a fast pace and finishing fourth in his elim (additionally, he won the Commodore Barry at Philly two starts ago).
$500,000 EARL BEAL TROT CHAMPIONSHIP (Race 12)
(Stakes record 1:50.2, Father Patrick, 2014)
The stakes’ record holder, Father Patrick, was a pupil of trainer Jimmy Takter, and this year Takter has rolled the dice and sent his undefeated champion filly Manchego in against the boys. Manchego ran her lifetime win streak to 15 with an elimination victory in 1:52.4, which was the fastest of last week’s three Beal dashes. But gelding Crystal Fashion missed only a nose to the top filly, and both will have to bring their ‘A’ game as they square off in the Beal – Manchego from Post 6 with Yannick Gingras up, and Crystal Fashion from Post 4 for trainer Jim Campbell (who has three Beal starters) and driver Tim Tetrick.
Champions outside of Pennsylvania won the other two eliminations. Ohio invader Mission Accepted rolled to his eighth consecutive win, in 1:53.2, for driver Ryan Stahl and trainer Jeff Conger. He has received a good draw in Post 3, while Six Pack, a 1:53.3 elim winner to remain perfect in four 2018 starts, was not fortunate at all for trainer Åke Svanstedt, as he will be forced to begin from Post 9.
$500,000 EARL BEAL TROT CHAMPIONSHIP
1, Lawmaker, Andrew Harris, Anthony MacDonald
2, Patent Leather, Jim Campbell, Brian Sears
3, Mission Accepted, Jeff Conger, Ryan Stahl
4, Crystal Fashion, Jim Campbell, Tim Tetrick
5, Fashionwoodchopper, Jim Campbell, David Miller
6, Manchego, Jimmy Takter, Yannick Gingras
7, Mississippi Storm, Tom Fanning, David Miller
8, Evaluate, Marcus Melander, Tim Tetrick
9, Six Pack, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt
Consolation: A wide-open event. Perhaps the best line was turned in by 2017 Breeders Crown champion Fiftydallarbill, who had to endure an interference break while eight just past the half, yet rallied to be fourth, just ‘photoed’ from a chance to race for the big money.
FINISHING LINE – There is also a horse on the card who is a former Breeders Crown and Ben Franklin winner, both right on the local surface. He has higher earnings by far than any horse entered, and more than most of the entire fields – a harness racing world record $7,577,638. His name is Foiled Again. He will start from Post 2 in the third race. And if the 14-year-old wins, it will be the 100th victory in his storied career.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)