The Downs Week in Review

This week's edition of the Week in Review focuses on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championships which took place at Pocono Downs this past Saturday. Four championship races for two-year-olds were held, each carrying a purse of $253,000. Let's take a look at all the actiom.

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLTS AND GELDINGS

Captain Corey, trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, came into the race as the one everybody had to beat. He had won the first three races of his career, all in Sire Stakes action in convincing fashion. The colt was part of an entry (along with Fly Light) that went off as the 1-9 favorite in the race.

In previous races, Captain Corey had controlled the action on the front end. But in this one, he was forced to grind first-over as his stablemate Johan Palema set the pace. But Svanstedt was able to coax Captain Corey past in the stretch, as the colt came home a length-and-a-half in front in a career-best 1:53:4, which was also a Pennsylvania Championships record for the group.

TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING COLTS AND GELDINGS

In a group that seemed a bit wide-open coming into the final, Southwind Gendry was bet down to a 4-5 favorite as he left from the #2 post. Trained by Ron Burke and driven by David Miller, the colt came into the race with wins in three of five starts. He stayed back early as Always A Miki set the pace.

Miller found cover for Southwind Gendry on the back stretch behind the first-over move of Chase H Hanover. In the stretch, the favorite was able to move to the outside of that over and power past Chase H Hanover for the victory. The winning time for Southwind Gendry was 1:51:3.

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLIES

Ake Svanstedt was at it again with this group, sending out the 9-5 favorite Flawless Country from post position #4 in a field of nine. This filly followed up seconds in his first two career races with three consecutive victories. In the championship, she settled third in early, with Svanstedt patiently waiting as he watched the outer flow materialize.

Luckily, the outer flow started to drop back. When the pocket horse moved to the outside, Flawless Country had the room that she needed. Full of trot, she zipped past the tiring leaders and held off fellow closer You Ato Dream to get the victory by a head in 1:54:3.

TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLIES

After three straight favorites had won the first three championships, Grace Hill looked to make it four-for-four in this race after wins in three of four starts. She went off at 6-5. Meanwhile, Blue Diamond Eyes, again courtesy of David Miller in the bike and Ron Burke as trainer, was let go as the 4-1 third choce.

Returning to Pennsylvania after a solid stint in Kentucky at the Red Mile, Blue Diamond Eyes settled quietly in the third-in spot. Grace Hill was able to briefly take the lead with her first-over jaunt, but Miller found room deep at the pylons in the stretch for his filly to close. Blue Diamond Eyes rallied for the tight victory as the favorite, getting it done in a career-best 1:51, which matched the Championship record for that grouping.

That will do it for this week at Pocono, but we'll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me at jbeviglia@mohegansunpocono.com.

by Jim Beviglia, for The Downs