The stakes season for national-calibre Pennsylvania-sired horses begins this Saturday afternoon (May 8) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with four divisions of a $120,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars event for three-year-old colt pacers sharing centre stage.
Looking to regain a bit of his early-season glamour is the Somebeachsomewhere colt One Eight Hundred, an $800,000 yearling purchase who startled fans with a 1:50.2 seasonal debut on April 3, with a :26.4 last quarter, and then followed up with a 1:52 off-track win, making him the heavy favourite for his Weiss Series Championship. However, in the Weiss final on April 24, One Eight Hundred got locked in the pocket and badly shuffled, although he recovered to be beaten only two lengths in fifth. Unraced since then, One Eight Hundred will be looking for a clear chance to exhibit his talent, starting from post seven in the field of eight for trainer Nancy Takter, who has put down Tim Tetrick for the driving assignment.
The two winners in the first preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes last week at The Meadows — Southwind Gendry (1:49.4) and Literl Lad Hanover (1:51.1) — will not compete in the All-Stars, although they are likely to be at Pocono on May 16 for the second PASS leg. But there are plenty of other proven three-year-olds joining One Eight Hundred Saturday – a second-place finisher and both third-place finishers in the Sire Stakes; three winners in the Stallion Series; both Weiss Consolation winners; and Always A Miki, who makes his seasonal debut after winning the Governor’s Cup at two. These youngsters and other swift colts and geldings should ensure fast, competitive races in the All-Stars events.
First post for the 14-race card at Pocono on Saturday is 12:30 p.m. Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA/Pocono)