The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono hosted five divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes opening preliminary for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday, July 14, with the first four divisions going on a fast track and the last on an off going.
The adverse weather seemed to have no effect on prohibitive-favourite De Los Cielos Deo, a Captaintreacherous-Lisjune colt who won by three-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:52.4.
Contesting for the front, four of the seven starters left quickly into a headwind, with the Ron Burke trainee De Los Cielos Deo pacing three-wide to the eighth under the guidance of Dave Palone, then moving to the top just past the :27.3 quarter. He was quickly confronted by his stablemate No Mas Amor, who circled to the lead before a :54.3 half.
No Mas Amor slowed into the headwind to reach three-quarters in 1:24 but De Los Cielos Deo was right on his back then out on the far turn. Despite bearing out slightly at headstretch, the winner finished powerfully in drawing off. Ehrmantraut stayed close most of the way and was second, two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Duddies Lot, who photoed No Mas Amor for third.
De Los Cielos Deo, undefeated in two purse starts and four trips gateward, races for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence Karr, Jerry and Thersa Silva – Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Trainer Brian Brown started a consecutive stakes double with the Sombeachsomewhere-Allamerican Cognac colt Air Force Hanover, recording a personal best of 1:52. Air Force Hanover, an even-money favourite to main foe Captain Malicious at 7-5, beat his neighbor off the gate. But Captain Malicious came blasting through from the inner spot, forcing tucks in a monstrous opening quarter of :25.3, with the winner into the two-hole, where he stayed during moderated middle splits of :54.3 and 1:23.1.
Driver Simon Allard tipped Air Force Hanover out at headstretch and, while the pacesetter held gamely, the pocket rocket had enough firepower to get a head up on the money. He is owned by Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo, and William Donovan.
Proof remained undefeated – in two purse races and four lines overall – with a victory in 1:52.2. Driver Jim Morrill Jr. had to go the overland route from midpack with the son of A Rocknroll Dance–Ginger And Fred at five-eighths, but the pair made the lead in the lane and dug in to withstand Bring The Thunder, off his cover, by a half-length. Diamond Creek Racing owns the successful favourite.
After three-straight runner-up finishes, Captain Victorious was victorious in 1:53. Marcus Miller hustled the son of Captaintreacherous–Belclaire to the top despite post seven, then yielded to favoured Blood Money at the :26.4 quarter.
Captain Victorious sat behind a long battle between the leader and first-over Semi Tough in a :56.2 back half, went to the passing lane and rallied for a length victory over Semi Tough, who photoed the previously-unbeaten Blood Money for second. Julie Miller conditions the victorious freshman for the Andy Miller Stable Inc., Jean Goehlen, and Caroll Huffman.
Longshot Pyro edged fellow longshot Aflame Hanover to take a mark of 1:54 in their division. Pyro was still sixth and inside early in the stretch, but as the front horses softened a bit, Pat Berry was able to circle his live horse out four wide and just caught Aflame Hanover in the shadow of the wire. Favoured Lyons Night Hawk, after a troubled trip, was another three-quarters lengths back in third.
Pyro is a Sweet Lou colt out of Whetstone Hanover who started a Sires double for trainer Ron Burke, and he is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence Karr, Phillip Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
(With files from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono)