The Majestic Son gelding High Blue took a new mark of 1:54.2 at age nine as he was a winner in the $14,000 claiming handicap trotting feature on the Monday twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Simon Allard, driving for trainer/brother Rene and owners Allard Racing Inc, was away swiftly with High Blue, putting fellow leavers in behind him before a :27.1 quarter. After a :56.2 half, Djokovic N came first-over and battled with the leader to and past the 1:24.3 three-quarters. High Blue proved game in the lane, holding off both Djokovic N and pocket-sitting Chuckabuck, with the biggest late threat coming from the fast-closing Keystone Charger, but that one came up three-quarters of a length shy of the winner of $264,209, who now has 35 career wins.
In a $13,000 contest for two-year-old pacing fillies, two misses put on a titanic struggle the last 3/8 of a mile, as the American Ideal–Good Stuff filly American Dreamgirl nosed out the Captaintreacherous–Tutu Hanover miss Lyons Sentinel in 1:54.4, lowering her mark by nearly four seconds.
Gareth Dowse sent Lyons Sentinel around favoured American Dreamgirl and Simon Allard early, hitting the quarter in :27.4, then slowing the half to :59. American Dreamgirl came out of the pocket at the 5/8, and the pair fought tooth-and-nail the rest of the way. American Dreamgirl got a brief lead past the 1:26.4 three-quarters; Lyons Sentinel reclaimed command at head stretch, only to have American Dreamgirl stay on and stick her nose ahead right on the money.
The winner, also successful in an Excelsior A race at Monticello seven days previously, is trained by Kevin Lare for owner Frank Chick.
(PHHA / Pocono)