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WILKES-BARRE, PA – Allywag Hanover (Captaintreacherous) was a repeat winner in the $100,000 Always B Miki Pace for older stars during Sun Stakes Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with Todd McCarthy in his usual perch behind last year’s divisional champion – while Todd’s brother Andrew accounted for the $100,000 Sebastian K S Trot, the companion harness racing event, in an impressive 1:51 with Cuatro De Julio (Trixton).
Allywag Hanover, owned by Allywag Stable, left from post four and turned loose American Courage, who left just outside him, not that long before a :25.2 opening stanza. The third fast early starter was Ruthless Hanover, from post eight, but after going three-wide the first three-sixteenths, he could not make the lead or the pocket, and was doomed to taking the air through fractions of :54.2 and 1:21.2.
After those fractions anybody would melt off, and the last eighth became a stout battle between American Courage and Allywag Hanover, with “Allywag” finding the extra gear to gain into the :27 kicker and turn back his game foe by a length.
After the race trainer Brett Pelling noted that “this is really his ideal trip – second-in, third-in, chasing after someone. I’d rather have him with someone to pace to than be on the lead.” Pelling indicated the horse’s near-future itinerary included stops at Dayton, Hoosier, and The Red Mile.
ALLYWAG HANOVER REPLAY
Cuatro De Julio was just about as impressive a winner as anybody in the Sebastian K S, leaving behind two millionaire mares, Bella Bellini (third) and When Dovescry (break), and other tough opponents by moving at the :27 quarter and getting the lead, posting midsplits of :55.3 and 1:23.2 before finishing the mile two lengths ahead of two-holer Hillexotic. (If you think you’ve detected a speed/inside bias on the day, you’re correct; only three winners were successful using an overland route for most of the last half.)
Cuatro De Julio’s effort gained further status when it is noted that his time was only two-fifths of a second off the divisional world record set here by Uncle Peter in 2013, and a stake mark. Trainer Marie Ortolan Bar, co-owner with D Farm LLC, kept up her streak of being the happiest person in the winner’s circle after her prized trotter won.
CUATRO DE JULIO REPLAY
To read about the rest of the action from Sun Stakes Saturday, click here.
For complete race results, click here.
From the PHHA/The Downs
