The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono featured two $35,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for two-year-old trotting fillies on its Sunday (July 18) card, and a noteworthy career debut was made by Mon Cheval, who came home in :57-:28 to stop the timer in 1:54.3.
At 1-9, Mon Cheval was expected to do well for several reasons: she had won two consecutive baby races before her debut, one in 1:54.2 at The Meadowlands, and she has among the most royal of pedigrees — Father Patrick–Shake It Cerry, a pairing which earned over $5 million, a Trotter of the Year award, and four seasonal divisional honours, not to mention their post-racetrack careers. Dexter Dunn drove her as if she were the best, and she certainly was for trainer Nancy Takter (the defending Driver and Trainer of the Year combining) and the noted Solveig’s Racing Partners.
Dunn also won the other All-Stars division, but the victory with the 10-1 Cantab Hall-Dixieland Delite miss Dixiechick Hanover was not as predictable. This section had all three winners from the first leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in it, but all three fell victim to losing gait, one of them the favoured Mimi Ocean Hanover while on the lead while on the far turn. Dunn had Dixiechick Hanover moving well uncovered, and they got around the trouble and to a lead she maintained to the wire while breaking her maiden in 1:56.2. Lucas Wallin trains the winner for Vestmarka AB and Triple Play Trotters LLC.
In 2021 amateur driver Tony Verruso has 11 victories (the most ever in any year of his 22-year career, and it’s only July 18) and a .522 UDR, both of which figures he improved with a win in Sunday’s Amateur Harness Drivers Club Series event. He guided Big Nudge, a son of Donato Hanover, to a 1:55.3 victory, drawing away in winning for trainer Symon Spicer, also co-owner with George Beck and Michael Sherman Jr.
Several classes of freshman performers will be in the spotlight during Monday’s 12:30 card at The Downs; program pages are available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)