$190,902 PA Sire Stakes action at Pocono Downs

WILKES-BARRE, PA – On Sunday evening (Aug. 4) Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania hosted four harness racing divisions of the $190,902 second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing males, along with six $20,000 divisions of the companion Stallion Series, and none of the ten winners can claim two victories in their respective events.

Fastest of the $47,000-plus PaSS divisional winners was the Bettor’s Wish – Heavenly Bride colt Wedlock Blue Chip, making his first start in the series, but certainly no stranger to winning, as he is now four of five after taking a new mark of 1:51.3. Coming off an Arden Downs victory, Wedlock Blue Chip came first-over, pacing his third quarter in :27.1 to clear early on the far turn and then withstanding charging Papi’s Rocket (who won the other Arden Downs division) by a length for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Polie Mallar, and owners Richard Cortese and Donald Hawk.

WEDLOCK BLUE CHIP REPLAY

NBA star Nikola Jokic and Hall Of Fame driver Tim Tetrick are very good friends, and Tetrick also gets along well with the Tall Dark Stranger – Ideal Newton colt Nikola J, with whom he set the pace then stepped home in :55.1 – :27 to win another Sires division in 1:52, equaling his mark. Scott DiDomenico conditions the winner of two of three for Oompa’s Farm Inc. and Joseph Barbera.

NIKOLA J REPLAY

David Miller joined fellow Hall Of Famer Tetrick in triumphing in both sections of the freshman stakes, winning a PaSS race with the Captain Crunch – Special Kay Deo colt TH Kay C Crunch (the “TH” refers to co-breeders Tara Hills Stud LTD and is not a truncation of “the”). TH Kay C Crunch was advancing on the grind when the favored leader made an equipment break, and the winner gained the advantage then held off Dreamboat Hanover (who suffered an “i”) by a length while taking a maiden mark of 1:52.2 for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Carl and Jody Jamieson.

TH KAY C CRUNCH REPLAY

The other PaSS split fell to the Captaintreacherous – Percy Bluechip colt Prince Hal Hanover, who used powerful stretch strides while coming home in :27 to catch TH Colby by a half a length in 1:53.2. The Tompkins Geers winner was handled by Bob McClure for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and the Prince Hal Hanover Stable.

PRINCE HAL HANOVER REPLAY

The Stallion Series races became a showcase for sire Sweet Lou, whose offspring captured five of the six divisions, including two for trainer Ron Burke and driver David Miller. Those winners were Lou’s Albano (dam Camille), who took a maiden mark of 1:53 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, M1 Stable LLC, and Jack Piatt III, and Da Lou Ron Ron (dam Sassa Hanover), home in 1:53.3 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and Frank Baldachino.

Fastest Stallion Series winner was Odds On No Limit (Sweet Lou – Odds On Clearwater), who broke his maiden in 1:52.2 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander, and the ownership of Odds On Racing and UFO2.

Tim Tetrick also added an StS win to his Sires victory with a son of Sweet Lou: Waffle Hanover (dam Vicinity), who broke his maiden in 1:53.3 for trainer Brett Pelling and Steve Wienick Racing LLC, Pryde Stables Inc., and Jfoderatritchiecanamerica. The Sweet Lou quintet was rounded out by Knockout Round (dam Can’t t Stop Me Now), who won his debut in 1:53.2 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Tony Alagna, and Micki Rae Stables LLC and Tim Twaddle.

The only Stallion Series race to not feature a Sweet Lou-sired winner was the card’s opener, taken by the Papi Rob Hanover – DB Blue Chip gelding Waterfront, who took a new mark of 1:53 for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Hunter Oakes, and the partnership of Flying A Racing Stable, Alan Johnston, Donald Mac Rae, and H O Racing Inc.

The racing week continues at Pocono on Monday and Tuesday with 1 p.m. cards. Free Pocono programs are available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs