Maiden-Breaking Win For Ariana G's Bro

Published: July 22, 2018 11:05 pm EDT

Both of the $21,500 features at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Sunday night required the use of the photo finish camera, with the mare Satin Dancer holding off Crazshana by a nose on the trot and Juslikeaqueen rallying furiously from sixth at the three-quarters to get a neck decision in the distaff pace.

Satin Dancer, a double winner in Open company at Hoosier before coming east, was sent right to the top in a :27.1 quarter over off going by driver Matt Kakaley in the trotting headliner, then got a breather to the half in :57. The winning daughter of Big Stick accelerated the tempo to the three-quarters, reaching that pole in 1:25.1, then had to go faster and dig deep as Crazshana narrowed in from the pocket, retaining the smallest possible advantage on the money while equaling her mark of 1:53. Travis Alexander conditions the winner, one of the big factors at two and three in Indiana as her $637,160 earnings would attest, for Summit Pacing Acres LLC (a “Pacing Acres” owning a fast trotter – they really have the winning touch!).

Obvious Blue Chip tried to live up to 1-5 backing in the female pacing feature, moving to the front near the :27.4 quarter and then posting middle fractions of :57 and 1:24.4. But first-over Princess Fabulosa grinded at the leader, passed her in the stretch, then herself was caught by the flying-from-third-over Juslikeaqueen, from whom Anthony Napolitano summoned a huge last quarter while wide to take a 1:53.1 decision. Antonia Storer owns and trains the Palone Ranger mare, who now has a lifetime bankroll of $175,710.

And just in case you thought that all those good Jimmy Takter trotters easily roll out of the barn all ready to go stakes-caliber miles, consider Fleet Admiral, who had a 1:56.3 win and a break in two qualifiers as a freshman, then put in two stretch breaks as a sophomore before qualifying at Pocono in 1:54.4. He made a break in his first purse start, was 16-1/2 lengths out at the quarter, and rallied to be second, so when he broke at the start of his second race Sunday but was only 9-1/4 lengths down at the quarter, he was “obviously” still in the hunt, and he again showed a giant recovery kick for driver Josert Fonseca, coming his last three-quarters in 1:27.1 to win in 1:57.3 on a sloppy track.

Oh, did we mention that he’s a full brother to Ariana G and All The Time?

(With files from PHHA/Pocono)

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