On Sunday (Aug. 4) evening Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania hosted four divisions of the $265,142 second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing males, along with six $27,778 divisions of the companion Stallion Series, and none of the ten winners can claim two victories in their respective events.
Fastest of the PaSS winners was the Bettors Wish – Heavenly Bride colt Wedlock Blue Chip (pictured), making his first start in the series, but certainly no stranger to winning, as he is now four of five after taking a new mark of 1:51.3. Coming off an Arden Downs victory, Wedlock Blue Chip came first-over, pacing his third quarter in :27.1 to clear early on the far turn and then withstanding charging Papis Rocket (who won the other Arden Downs division) by a length for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Polie Mallar, and owners Richard Cortese and Donald Hawk.
NBA star Nikola Jokic and Hall Of Fame driver Tim Tetrick are very good friends, and Tetrick also gets along well with the Tall Dark Stranger – Ideal Newton colt Nikola J, with whom he set the pace then stepped home in :27 to win another Sires division in 1:52, equaling his mark. Scott DiDomenico conditions the winner of two of three for Oompa’s Farm Inc. and Joseph Barbera.
David Miller joined fellow Hall Of Famer Tetrick in triumphing in both sections of the freshman stakes, winning a PaSS race with the Captain Crunch – Special Kay Deo colt TH Kay C Crunch (the “TH” refers to co-breeders Tara Hills Stud LTD). TH Kay C Crunch was advancing on the grind when the favoured leader made an equipment break, and the winner gained the advantage then held off Dreamboat Hanover by a length while taking a maiden mark of 1:52.2 for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Carl and Jody Jamieson.
The other PaSS split fell to the Captaintreacherous – Percy Bluechip colt Prince Hal Hanover, who used powerful stretch strides while coming home in :27 to catch TH Colby by a half length in 1:53.2. The Tompkins Geers winner was handled by Bob McClure for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and the Prince Hal Hanover Stable.
The Stallion Series races became a showcase for sire Sweet Lou, whose offspring captured five of the six divisions, including two for trainer Ron Burke and driver David Miller. Those winners were Lous Albano (dam Camille), who took a maiden mark of 1:53 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, M1 Stable LLC, and Jack Piatt III, and Da Lou Ron Ron (dam Sassa Hanover), home in 1:53.3 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and Frank Baldachino.
Fastest Stallion Series winner was Odds On No Limit (Sweet Lou - Odds On Clearwater), who broke his maiden in 1:52.2 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander, and the ownership of Odds On Racing and UFO2.
Tim Tetrick also added an StS win to his Sires victory with a son of Sweet Lou, Waffle Hanover (dam Vicinity), who broke his maiden in 1:53.3 for trainer Brett Pelling and Steve Wienick Racing LLC, Pryde Stables Inc., and Jfoderatritchiecanamerica. The Sweet Lou quintet was rounded out by Knockout Round (dam Can’t t Stop Me Now), who won his debut in 1:53.2 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Tony Alagna, and Micki Rae Stables LLC and Tim Twaddle.
The only Stallion Series race to not feature a Sweet Lou-sired winner was the card’s opener, taken by the Papi Rob Hanover – DB Blue Chip gelding Waterfront, who took a new mark of 1:53 for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Hunter Oakes, and the partnership of Flying A Racing Stable, Alan Johnston, Donald Mac Rae, and H O Racing Inc.
The racing week continues at Pocono on Monday (Aug. 5) and Tuesday (Aug. 6) with 1 p.m. cards.
Sheridan Doubles Across Two Tracks In AHDC
Yogi Sheridan bagged a double in American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) events on Sunday, winning a pacing division in the afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia and firing up the highway to score in a trotting division at Pocono Downs that night.
Sheridan romped in the second AHDC pacing division at Harrah’s Philadelphia, decimating his competition with 1-9 shot Finally Friday in 1:52.3. Finally Friday darted for the point out of post 8 and cleared command before a :27.2 first quarter and scooted away from his competition. Past a :56.1 half, Finally Friday widened his lead and clicked past three-quarters in 1:24.1 with a five-length advantage that only grew in the last quarter. Finally Friday crossed the beam 9-3/4 lengths better than Jumping Jake (driven by Pearly Allen), who gave futile chase to hold second. Americas Guest (Tony Beltrami) finished third, another three lengths behind, and Firstup (James Slendorn) finished fourth.
Dean Eckley owns and trains Finally Friday, a four-year-old gelding by Tellitlikeitis. He paid $2.20 to win.
In the opening division of the AHDC Trot at Pocono Downs, Sheridan converted a pocket ride with 6-5 favourite Its A Horse to land a narrow win in 1:57.1. Its A Horse followed the trail of Dingle (John Calabrese), who carved a mostly uncontested clip of :27.3, :57 and 1:26.2. Once spinning for home, Sheridan lifted Its A Horse into action and grabbed the lead in the lane while withstanding the late push from Dwight Hanover (Bob Hechkoff) to win by a neck. Dingle held third, beaten two lengths, and Winneress (Anthony Verruso) finished fourth.
Peter Pellegrino trains Its A Horse, an 11-year-old gelding by Full Count, for owner Room4040 LLC Stables. He paid $4.40 to win.
Tony Beltrami won the other AHDC Pace division at Harrah’s Philadelphia with Select Friday, who brushed and proceeded to crush in 1:55.4. Beltrami circled Select Friday to the lead through a :27.4 first quarter and overtook the point from Tony N Rock (Yogi Sheridan) moving for the half. Select Friday then gradually scampered away from his competition through a :57.1 half and 1:26.2 three-quarters to cross the line with a 5-1/2-length winning margin. Pretty Ricky (Frank Tsipouras), the 7-5 favourite, rallied from third over for second with Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) sustaining a first-over push for third and Freds Night (Matt Zuccarello) saving ground for fourth.
Donald Maiorano trains Select Friday, a six-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, for owner Chad Colasanti. He paid $5.20 to win.
The second division of the AHDC Trot came down to a stewards’ decision, with Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) ascending to first via disqualification for interference.
Ladys Image (Neil Glasser) led most of the mile, clocking a :28.1 first quarter and then receiving first-over pressure from Jive Ninety Five (Yogi Sheridan) through a :59.4 half and 1:29.1 three-quarters. As those two sparred on the lead around the final turn, Im The Muscle (Anthony Verruso) angled from second over to race three wide, carrying Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) four wide turning for home. Im The Muscle then crossed the line a head better than Shoemaker Hanover, but the far-turn interference placed Shoemaker Hanover first over Im The Muscle. Jive Ninety Five took third while Ladys Image faded to fourth.
John Calabrese trains Shoemaker Hanover, an 11-year-old stallion by Cantab Hall, for his Calabrese Farms LLC and Michelle Rickey. He paid $17.60 to win.
AHDC action continues both at Harrah’s Philadelphia with divisions on the pace and at Pocono Downs with divisions on the trot. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 6 p.m. at Pocono Downs.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs and the AHDC)