Rose Run Zeke picked up his fifth straight win to start his career in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, highlighting the action on Sunday night (Aug. 6) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. The race was one of four divisions of the Sire Stakes held on the evening for two-year-old colts and geldings on the pace, with purses ranging from $42,441 to $42,881.
Trained by Mitchell York, Rose Run Zeke, a two-year-old gelding by Stay Hungry, was sent to the front immediately despite having the outside post in a seven-horse field. As the 2-1 second betting choice, he built up a big lead on the backstretch. That lead dwindled severely under the pressure of even-money favourite T H Tyson, who came in unbeaten after two career races and drew to within a length. But driver Hunter Myers coaxed more out of Rose Run Zeke and he came home a winner by 1-3/4 lengths over T H Tyson, with Solid Character finishing third.
Rose Run Zeke paced the mile in a career-best 1:51.3. It was the second win at Pocono for the gelding, who has also scored three times at The Meadows. The winner’s share of the purse pushed his career earnings to $56,564.
The other Sire Stakes winners on the night at Pocono were Booming Economy (driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Nancy Takter) in 1:52.1; Captain Fear Not (Matt Kakaley, Kathe Troy) in 1:51.2; and Lou Vuitton (David Miller, Ron Burke) in 1:52.4.
Two-year-old colt and gelding pacers also took part in five $20,000 divisions of The Stallion Series at Pocono on Sunday. The winners were Yearn To Learn (Dunn, Chris Ryder) in 1:53; Silken Sweet (Dunn, Deborah Daguet) in 1:52.4; Rio (Miller, Scott Cox) in 1:52.1; Syed Ali K (Miler, Jacob Hartline) in 1:52.3; and Hunger Strike (Matt Kakaley, Travis Alexander) in 1:52.4.
Not to be outdone by the freshmen, three-year-old pacing filly Quick E continued her perfect season on Sunday night at Pocono. In the opening race on the card, the Brett Pelling trainee rolled to a victory on the front end in a conditioned pace for fillies and mares in 1:51.2. Driven by Tim Tetrick, Quick E made it eight wins in eight races in 2023 with her score giving her seasonal earnings of $60,500 after pocketing the winner’s share of the $12,500 purse.
Pocono’s next live racing card comes up on Monday afternoon (Aug. 7) with a 1 p.m. (EDT) first post. There are 14 races on the Monday Pocono program.
(Pocono Downs)