Keystone Velocity, the lowest-priced yearling from the last crop of champion sire Western Hanover, continued to raise his profit ratio further into the stratosphere by winning the $20,000 featured pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Saturday night.
Keystone Velocity, starting from the rail in the field of seven, left swiftly despite a six-week layoff and utilized track geometry to maximum effect for driver Andrew McCarthy, as the pair hung double millionaire Clear Vision out on the rim through splits of :26, :53.4, and 1:21.1, with Southwind Amazon keeping the pocket shut behind the pacesetter. Around the final turn Clear Vision fell back, and Southwind Amazon took his shot in the Pocono Pike, but Keystone Velocity had more than enough to the wire, winning by a length over the potential pocket rocket in 1:48.4 for new trainer Barry Probber.
Owner Lauretta Galm haltered Keystone Velocity for $3,000 when he sold at Harrisburg in November 2009, and sometimes it’s just a matter of timing. The next year Keystone Velocity’s dam Venus Killean produced 2015 older pacing mare champion and millionairess Venus Delight. (By the way, the highest price given for one of the last crop of “Western” was the $140,000 paid for the daughter of double millionaires Loyal Opposition, Royal Opportunity – who earned less than $6,000 on the racetrack, and her two foals never got to the races. To be fair, the second highest-priced yearling, at $130,000, was Jug winner, millionaire, and emerging sire Big Bad John.)
Keystone Velocity has always shown high speed since his colt days, but a variety of situations has kept him away from the track for long periods of time – this was only his 81st career start, 18 of which are now wins. And the $3000 yearling boosted his bankroll to $474,721 for Galm, his only registered ever since his purchase as a yearling.
The $320,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championships will be held during the next two racing cards at the Downs, with four divisions of three-year-olds divided by sex and gait headlining the Sunday card starting at 7:30 p.m., followed by the two-year-olds on the Monday card, which starts at 4:30 p.m., Monday starting time at Pocono for the rest of the season.
(PHHA/Pocono)