Sire Cantab Hall emerged as the star of the show during five $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for two-year-old trotting colts Tuesday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, as he was the father of the three fastest winners.
Quickest of the quintet was President Lindy, who made a big move during the third quarter, then coasted home to win a laugher by 8 lengths in 1:57 in his first victory. The colt is handled by Team Orange Crush, driver Andy Miller and trainer/wife Julie, and he is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc. in partnership with GTY Stable and Lindy Racing Stable, the latter also the breeder.
Second-fastest Tuesday winner was Rubio, who rallied from the pocket into a :56.3 last half, going outside in the stretch while Snowstorm Hanover on his back ducked to the Pocono Pike, with Rubio more photogenic by a neck. The 1:57.2 final time made Rubio the only winner NOT to take a lifetime mark, as he won his purse debut at The Meadowlands in 1:57 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Jimmy Takter, and owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, and Brixton Medical Inc.
The other Cantab Hall winner was Affair Of Honor, who had his task lightened when favoured Chromeo broke in the pocket headstretch, as he went on to win by two lengths in 1:57.4. The colt is owned by William Wiswell, Jean Goehlen, and Eugene Schick.
The braintrust behind Affair Of Honor is driver Corey Callahan and trainer John Butenschoen: with the win of Affair Of Honor, they have now combined for seven stakes victories since May 15.
Win #6 was in another All-Stars cut with the Yankee Glide colt Giveitgasandgo, who came up first-over on the turn and was getting the measure of pacesetter Phi Alpha when that one lapsed from stride late. The final time of 1:58.2 includes a :27.3 personal kicker for the winner, owned by Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc., David Miller, Lawrence Means, and VIP Internet Stable LLC.
The other All-Stars winner was Factofthematter, an Explosive Matter colt who swung three-wide off the final turn and certainly finished explosively, winning by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1. And the fact of the matter is that Factofthematter, now unbeaten in two purse starts, hails from one of harness racing’s hottest stables – that of his breeders, Rick and Regina Beinhauer. With this win Rick Beinhauer has won with the last five charges he’s sent to post, and as a driver he’s now won half of his dozen seasonal starts.
(PHHA/Pocono)