All three divisions of the $180,855 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) third preliminary for two-year-old pacing colts at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono saw their winners take lifetime bests of 1:52 over an "off" going, with Adriano Hanover perfect after three PASS events and driver Matt Kakaley engineering upsets in the other two divisions.
The Western Ideal–A and Gsconfusion colt Adriano Hanover had little trouble in winning his division as the heavy favourite, moving after the :27.2 quarter and making the lead well before the :56 half. He then passed three-quarters in 1:24.1 before dashing home to post a two-and-a-half length victory over Manticore.
Adriano Hanover is now undefeated in five purse starts, with an Arden Downs division added to his three Sire Stakes wins, for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King Jr., and the ownership of Jo Ann-Looney King and Joseph Palermo III.
Cattlewash also entered his Sires section undefeated in two divisional races, but after grabbing the lead past a :27.1 opening quarter and posting middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.3, he faced a backfield charge in the stretch. Moving fastest of all late was the Sweet Lou–Show And Tell gelding Tell Them Lou, who had been passed by Cattlewash after making the top, then came out in the lane and posted a half-length victory while paying $90.60 to win. Papi Rob Hanover came up the Pocono Pike for second, Seeyou At Thebeach closed for third and Cattlewash had to settle for fourth, though beaten only one-and-a-half lengths.
Jim Campbell trains the two-time winner for the ownership of Fashion Farms LLC and Judith Peres. Tell Them Lou, with his 1:52 winning time, also earned the distinction of becoming his division’s North American season’s leader.
Trainer Ron Burke sent the one-two finishers in the other Sires division as Macs Big Boy defeated favoured Caliber, a previous winner in PASS, by a half length. The victorious Somebeachsomewhere–Michelles Jackpot colt made a big backstretch move for Kakaley on leader Western Vacation after that one had cut front numbers of :26.2 and :56.4. Macs Big Boy took the lead by the 1:24 three-quarters, then withstood Caliber heading to the wire.
The winner had previously achieved a Pennsylvania All-Stars victory at Pocono for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, and the Wingfield Five LLC.
Matt Kakaley also won twice in divisional Stallion Series competition, both for trainer Ray Schnittker. The 1:52 lifetime-best-equaling win of the Captaintreacherous–Lets Groove Tonite colt Captain Groovy gave him three Stallion Series wins, but it was also the hardest-fought contest.
Captain Groovy sat the pocket behind Sandbetweenmytoes, then had to have a strong rally to catch the pacesetter by a head–although their closest rival was 13 lengths behind. Trainer Schnittker co-owns the undefeated colt, also a winner in the PA All-Stars, with Ted Gewertz, Howard Taylor, and Mary Kinsey Arnold.
The Well Said–Bodacious Hanover colt Lake Charles took his second-straight Stallion Series outing, moving to the lead early then coming home in :55.3/:27.2 to be two lengths to the good of Dracarys Z in 1:54. Schnittker also co-owns this winner with Dr. John Egloff, Max J. Hempt, and Steven Arnold.
The easiest winner in all of the night’s stakes was the Captaintreacherous–Western Silk colt Cheerio Hill, seven-and-a-half lengths ahead at the finish while posting a time of 1:53.2 clocking for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Chris Oakes, and the ownership of Tom Hill, Northfork Racing Stable, and Billy Joe Timmins. After losing his first three races, Cheerio Hill has now won his last three by a combined margin of 18-and-a-quarter lengths.
The only non-favourite to win in the Stallion Series contests was the Somebeachsomewhere–Temptation Hanover colt Patriot Nation, who came uncovered into a :56.3 half and still overhauled Lyons Music, who had gained the stretch lead in the Pocono Pike. He won by three-quarter lengths while breaking his maiden in 1:53.4. George Napolitano Jr. drove the winner for trainer Andrew Harris and owners Michael Goldberg Racing LLC and A Harris Racing LLC.
These pacing colts now move on to Harrah’s Philadelphia for their final preliminary action next week; the top horses in the Stallion Series pointstandings will race in their Championships at Pocono on Monday, Sept. 9.
(PHHA/Pocono)