$561,500 Pennsylvania Classic eliminations

 

The Burke Stable had the two favorites in the first Classic elim in JK Will Power (1 to 2) and Manhattan Beach (9 to 5), and they finished 1-3 respectively, split by Canadian invader The Catamount Kid. JK Will Power, off a strong 2016 bow at Philly, went by his stablemate early, briefly gave up the lead to the parked The Catamount Kid at the 26.4 quarter, but was quickly in the move to reclaim the front. Explained driver Yannick Gingras, "I wasn't sure, with my driving the favorite, that Jody (Jamieson) and his horse were the ones to sit behind from the program, but as it turned out I could have gone either way."

 

JK Will Power got a real rest during panel and hit the half in 56.2, continued on with a tailwind to put up a 1:23.3 ¾, then sprinted home in 27.3 – and needed all of that dash through the lane as The Catamount Kid tried hard to emulate the three "pocket rocket" winners of the Miss Pennsylvania elims. His Pocono Pike late effort, at 11-1, came up a neck shy, with Manhattan Beach holding his third spot ahead of Western Dynasty. Trainer Burke conditions the victorious Somebeachsomewhere colt for the 3 Brothers Stable.

 

In the other elim, Check Six and Big Top Hanover were coupled in the betting as the 3-5 favorite, and they finished a nose apart on the money, just ahead of Lyons Snyder. These three had been in the thick of the action throughout – Lyons Snyder claimed the front, yielded to Easy Lover Hanover before the 26.3 opener, then was quarter-mover #1 to the lead in front of the stands, yielding to quarter-mover #2 Big Top Hanover, who took the field to the half in 55.

 

Check Six and driver Yannick Gingras, completing the Classic elim sweep along with Burke, came up first-over and made a bold backstretch brush to clear his stablemate by the 1:22.1 3/4s, then stayed game late as Big Top Hanover came outside from the pocket for the drive and lost by the smallest possible amount, with Lyons Shadow only a half-length off the win; Duke Of Delray was fourth, and from this division JJ Flynn had the faster clocking of the two fifth-place finishers and thus was the last horse advancing to the Championship.

 

Somebeachsomewhere picked up his fourth sire credit in the five stakes elims, two at each sex, with the victory of Check Six, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, William Switala and James Martin.

 

Gingras said that he would await the results of Monday's open draw before finalizing a selection of whom he'll guide in the Championship. Matt Kakaley guided the other two Burke-ites. Trainer Chris Ryder will have three in the final, Western Dynasty, Duke Of Delray, and JJ Flynn; owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound is in the interesting position of having two horses in the final with different trainers: Manhattan Beach (Burke) and Lyons Snyder (Mark Silva).

 

Cooperstown (11-1) and Doctor Butch (14-1) both came steaming down the extreme outside and finished on equal terms in the $25,000 winners-over pace, stopping the timer in 1:50.2. The winners came into the race on different win wavelengths – the Four Starzzz Shark stallion Cooperstown having won four of his last five, while the Art Major stallion Doctor Butch had been winless (though with 8 board finishes) in 11 seasonal starts – but both laid off a backstretch battle between favorites Lettucerockthem and JK Endofanera, then rallied strongly for the top-end dead heat.

 

Tim Tetrick guided Doctor Butch for trainer Linda Toscano and owner Kenneth Jacobs, while Anthony Napolitano, who had seven winners here last Saturday, posted his fifth win of the night in this tenth race co-feature (the sixth non-stake race of the night at this point) with Cooperstown, trained by Daniel Renaud for owners Brian and Ina Ross Wallach.