The $215,461 third preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) for two-year-old pacing colts was conducted during the Sunday (Aug. 16) card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The Always B Miki–Beach Gal colt Always A Miki now has two (PASS) victories, and is 3-for-4 lifetime, after tying for the night’s fastest stakes performer with a 1:51.1 mile and earning a new mark. The Nancy Takter trainee was sent to the front near the quarter by driver Dexter Dunn and controlled things from there, seeing off closing pocket-sitter Chase H Hanover by three-quarters of a length for the ownership of Christina Takter, Goran Anderberg, Herb Liverman and the Rojan Stables.
Also victorious in 1:51.1 for a lifetime best was the Somebeachsomewhere–Swinging Beauty gelding Whichwaytothebeach, who also took his second stakes win–only his first was in a Stallion Series event in his debut. The rapidly-developing baby blazed the final half :54.2 (final quarter in :26.4) to catch pacesetter The Legend Hanover by a half-length for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Polie Mallar and owners Alan Johnston and John Craig.
Lous Pearlman had been undefeated in four starts including two PASS wins coming into his section, but after setting the pace he tired, allowing the Betting Line–All Tucked Up colt Abuckabett Hanover to earn a 1:51.2 maiden mark by utilizing the famed Pocono Pike and finishing one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Capt Jack Hanover. Driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna combined with owners Barbera Stable, Jablonsky Held Stable, Joe Deguara and Alagna And Inthegym for this victory.
The Captaintreacherous–Bittorsweet Terror colt Bazooka Hanover remains 3-for-3 in Stallion Series competition after winning one of the six $20,000 splits. He controlled the pace and won in 1:53, a career best. David Miller drove for trainer Blake MacIntosh and owner Steve Heimbecker, who have the unusual distinction of having a horse who has won three times in a series and has paid, in order of victory, $3.60, $119.80 and $4.20.
David Miller and MacIntosh had another Stallion Series win with the Somebeachsomewhere–Perfect Carets gelding Perfectboy Hanover, a maiden no longer after a 1:52 victory. Perfectboy Hanover got better as the mile went on, coming home in :54.4/:27.1 to win for owners Fred Brayford, Ridgeway Racing, Knot Xzachallie Stable, and trainer MacIntosh.
Dexter Dunn added two Stallion Series wins to his PASS win, including the fastest Stallion Series victory with the Betting Line–Thirty X colt Rifleman, who lowered his mark to 1:51.2. The Chris Ryder trainee came off a 25-day layoff to record his second straight win, both in the Stallions Series, for owners Robert Mondillo and Craig Henderson.
Dunn also teamed with trainer Nancy Takter to win in the Stallion Series with the first-time starter One Eight Hundred in 1:53.1. A colt by Somebeachsomewhere–Economy Terror, One Eight Hundred had to tuck from the post 8 then come first over, but still flashed home in :54.3/:26.4 to win by the smallest margin of the stakes events, a head, over Mad Man Hill for co-owners Takter and Brixton Medical Inc.
The longest-priced stakes winner won by the biggest margin, as the Betting Line–Ideal Nectarine gelding Bet Ninteen ended his 1:52.3 maiden victory four lengths to the good for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Erv Miller and owner D R Van Witzenburg. Numbers geeks buzzed that Bet Ninteen almost exactly matched his name in the wagering, as he went off at 18.90-1.
Captaintreacherous joined Somebeachsomewhere and Betting Line with double Stallion Series sire credits when Captain Fancy, out of the champion mare Fancy Filly, won his second start while taking a maiden mark of 1:53.1, pacing a final quarter in :27.3. Tim Tetrick drove for trainer Bill Mac Kenzie and the ownership of Vincent Ali Jr., Alma Iafelice, and Ted Gewertz.
PASS action for freshmen trotting fillies will be featured on the Monday (Aug. 17) Pocono card, along with a Rainbow Pick-5 carryover approaching $130,000.
(PHHA/Pocono)