Precocious two-year-old pacing males were on display in four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event on Monday (July 10) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and the four winners all emerged as still unbeaten in purse contests.
The only non-favourite to win, the Captaintreacherous-Square Dancer colt Lyons Benjamin, was hardly a longshot at 7-5. He didn't look like one either as he cut the pace, coming home in :55.1, last quarter in :26.4, to defeat favoured Booming Economy by a neck in 1:53.1. The Jim King Jr. trainee, driven by Tim Tetrick, is owned by Threelyonsracing, and he also stepped home in :55.1, last quarter in :26.4, to win his purse bow in 1:55.4 at Philly on June 30.
Captaintreacherous earned another siring credit when Ivy Park (dam All Blue) won his purse debut in 1:53.4 after surmounting a first-over grind. Yannick Gingras drove the winning colt for trainer Nancy Takter and the ownership of Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and Nancy Takter & JAF Racing.
The timer again froze at 1:53.4 when Yannick Gingras crossed the wire first with another making his purse bow, the Heston Blue Chip-Morenci colt Hugh Heston, who moved to the lead early and won handily for trainer Per Engblom and Morrison Racing Stables.
Another 1:53.4 mile was put in by Rose Run Zeke, a Stay Hungry-Rose Run Ultimate gelding who came to town off two purse wins, including a 1:52.1 victory at The Meadows in his previous race. Here pacesetter War Machine got away to a 1:27 three-quarters with Rose Run Zeke moving into the far turn to challenge. “Zeke” just got the better of his game rival by a nose, coming his own last quarter in :26.3 for driver Hunter Myers and trainer/owner Mitchell York.
Anthony Napolitano won the Late Double to top the day’s drivers with three victories.
The All-Stars races continue Tuesday at 1 p.m. with action for the two-year-old trotting filly ranks. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)