Favorites dominate in PASS Championship Finals

Pocono Downs hosted the $1,008,000 Championship Finals of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for two-year-old harness racing trotters and pacers on Sunday, Sept. 2. There were four divisions, each racing for a purse of $252,000.

$252,000 PASS Final Two-Year-Old Filly Pace

It was billed as the battle of the undefeated with Geocentric meeting Lyons Legend for the first time.

The 10^th race got underway with Lyons Legend (Matt Kakaley) leaving for the early lead and then on the outside came Geocentric (Sweet Lou) and driver Tim Tetrick refused a two-hole spot and then took command of the race at the first quarter in :27.

Geocentric, going for his sixth straight win, led the field to the half mile in :54.4 and with Lyons Legend sitting right on their back, they entered the backstretch where My Girl EJ and driver Chris Page came first-over.

At the three-quarters in 1:22.4, My Girl EJ was second on the outside with Geocentric still in command of the race. Once they started down the stretch, Kakaley sent Lyons Legend into the passing lane and started to gain ground but faded towards the wire as Geocentric was able to hold off My Girl EJ to win by a neck in 1:50.4. Lyons Legend was third.

GEOCENTRIC REPLAY

A $55,000 yearling purchase, Geocentric is trained by Brian Brown for owners Milton Leeman, Alex Keith, Joseph Stambaugh and Joe Sbrocco and was bred by Diamond Creek Farm. She paid $2.60 to win.

$252,000 PASS Final Two-Year-Old Filly Trot

Sierra Girl (Bar Hopping) was the overwhelming 1/5 betting favorite but gave racing fans a shock as she got away in last place at the start of the 9^th race final for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt.

Paulina Hanover (Andy McCarthy) left from post eight and was first on the lead but gave it up to Slip Sliding Away (Dexter Dunn) at the first quarter in :27.1.

Slip Sliding Away, a $510,000 yearling purchase, then cut the mile to the half in :56.4 and then it was Svanstedt and Sierra Girl pulling first-over from seventh place as they entered the backstretch, and they marched right up to collar Slip Sliding Away at the three-quarters in 1:25.4.

Coming off the final turn, Slip Sliding Away still was in the lead but with every stride Sierra Girl kept gaining ground and won by a nose in 1:55.4. Paulina Hanover was third.

SIERRA GIRL REPLAY

A $60,000 yearling purchase, it was the second straight win and fourth victory in six starts for Sierra Girl. She was bred by Samuel Stoltzfus, Jr. and is owned by Ake Svanstedt, Young Guns, Joe Sbrocco and JAF Racing. She paid $2.60 to win.

$252,000 PASS Final Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts

T C I (Cantab Hall) and driver David Miller, fresh off their victory last week in the $458,800 final of the William Wellwood in Toronto, had an easy time in winning the PASS Final.

Security Protected (Tim Tetrick) was first on the lead with Bird And Grenade (Brady Brown) sitting the pocket trip with 1/5 favorite T C I floating on the outside as they passed the opening quarter mile in 1:54.4.

Then Miller sent T C I to the lead and he cut the mile to the half in :58 and then the three-quarters in 1:27 with Highly Motivated (Matt Kakaley) trying to come first-over but not gaining any ground on the leaders.

Coming down the stretch T C I was in hand for Miller, winning with ease by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. Security Protected was second with Greenspan (Dave Palone) third.

T C I REPLAY

It was the seventh straight win in eight starts for T C I. He is trained by Ron Burke and was a $150,000 yearling purchase. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi. He was bred by Concord Stud Farm and paid $2.60 to win.

$252,000 PASS Final Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt

The 12^th race final for pacing colts saw Rose Run Zeke (Yannick Gingras) out leave Captain Albano (Captaintreacherous) and driver Todd McCarthy for control of the early lead. The even money race favorite, Booming Economy (Tim Tetrick) was in third place.

With no one challenging, Rose Run Zeke and Gingras cut the mile to the half in :54.4. Then late in the backstretch, Tetrick came first-over with Booming Economy by the three-quarters in 1:21.4.

Racing around the final turn, Booming Economy came after Rose Run Zeke, but it was Captain Albano and Todd McCarthy who flew into the passing lane and blew by the race leaders en route to a two-length triumph in 1:50.2. Rose Run Zeke was second with Booming Economy third.

CAPTAIN ALBANO REPLAY

It was the third straight win for Captain Albano and his fourth win of the season. He is trained by Noel Daley for the Petricia Stable, L A Express & Sjoblom and Michael Dolan. Captain Albano was a $150,000 yearling purchase bred by Frederick Hertrich, III and paid $6.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink