PA All-Stars Series gets underway at Pocono

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The first clash of the Hambletonian-hopeful three-year-old harness racing trotting males took place Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with even money shots Herodotus (Bar Hopping) and Once In A Lifetime (Father Patrick) earning new speed marks while winning their respective $37,500 divisions of the PA All-Stars Series.

Herodotus, named after a Greek historian, certainly has a solid record this year, notching his third win in four 2023 starts with a 1:53 victory for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Hatfield Stables.

David Miller moved Herodotus from second past a :28.1 quarter, took the lead, then surrendered it to Commander Frank, who carried the field to midsplits of :56.3 and 1:24.4, with favored (by $41) French Wine challenging first-over.

In the stretch, the battle fell to the front two inside horses, with Miller tipping Herodotus to the Pocono Pike, and although Commander Frank battled hard, the half-length win margin was not really reflective of the confidence Miller seemed to have in his gelding late.

HERODOTUS REPLAY

Once In A Lifetime, the 2022 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisional champ in his section, remained unbeaten in two seasonal outings for trainer Jim Campbell and Sad Frog Farms while winning in 1:53.3.

Tim Tetrick made two moves to control the pace through fractions of :28, :57.2, and 1:26.1, then bid the field adieu by tacking on a :27.2 last quarter. Crantini, the second-place finish in the PaSS Championship last season, did well from the pocket after hard early usage but came up shy by 1¼ lengths to the colt Once In A Lifetime, who was the pari-mutuel favorite.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME REPLAY

In a sentence one might think would originate from the southern part of the state, Tim Tetrick was the day’s leading driver with three victories. In a sentence one would seldom associate with Tetrick, he also drove the biggest-priced winner on a day kind to well-regarded horses, scoring with Silky Stride ($10.60).

The racing week concludes on Tuesday with a 1 p.m. card, featuring the top claiming trotters and several groups of developing younger horses. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs