T C I and Security Protected scored in divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes held on Sunday (Aug. 13) night at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Each of the two races for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings carried a purse of $78,680.
T C I (Cantab Hall-Nicoles Promise), a two-year-old colt trained by Ron Burke, rolled to his fourth consecutive victory, a streak which now includes three straight Pennsylvania Sire Stakes wins.
As a 1-5 favourite leaving from post position three in a field of eight on the five-eighths mile Pocono oval, T C I retook the lead early from Crown Monarch and had no issues from there. David Miller guided T C I home seven lengths in front of second-place Highly Motivated (Charlie Norris) in 1:55. Bird And Grenade (Brady Brown) finished third.
Security Protected (Father Patrick-Thatsnotmyname) can also now claim victories in three Sire Stakes in a row following his win for trainer Marcus Melander on Sunday night.
Leaving from post position four in a field of seven as an even-money favourite, the two-year-old colt got away third and waited to make his move until the backstretch, when driver Brian Sears coaxed him past pacesetter Breezy Hall. In the lane, Security Protected withstood the late pursuit of Memorynimagination (Anthony MacDonald) to win by a length in a career-best 1:55.4. Carrera Hanover (Miller) picked up the show.
In addition to the Sire Stakes on Sunday night at Pocono, there were also five $20,000 divisions in The Stallion Series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The Stallion Series winners were: Executive Game (Matt Kakaley, Jim Campbell) in 1:57.2; Lonely Lakewood (Anthony MacDonald, Megan Scran) in 1:58.2; Casanova Hall (Tyler Buter, Nifty Norman) in 1:57.2; Smarter Than You (David Miller, Ron Burke) in 1:56.4; and Attis Rock (Jim Pantaleano, Donald Wiest) in 1:58.4.
Live racing at Pocono resumes on Monday afternoon (Aug. 14) with a first post time of 1 p.m. ET. There are 14 races on the Pocono Monday program.
(Pocono Downs)