Captain Corey leads Sun Stakes Saturday coverage

Harnesslink has provided extensive harness racing coverage of today’s Sun Stakes Saturday from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Saturday afternoon. Each stakes event has an article, photo and video replay of the race. There were world records, stakes record, track records and lifetime best miles scored throughout the day.

Captain Corey too strong in $300,000 Earl Beal, Jr Memorial Trot

He won the Hambletonian with his long stretched out stride and he did it again, Captain Corey ($2.10) that is, as he trotted away to victory in the $300,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial Trot, tying his lifetime record of 1:51.

The race started out with Take All Comers (David Miller) going out first but giving way to Johan Palema (Yannick Gringras) to the opening quarter mile in :26.4. It was then that trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt sent Captain Corey (Googoo Gaagaa) to the outside and to the lead by the half mile in :55.3.

Going to the backstretch, stablemate entry Delayed Hanover (Dexter Dunn) came first-over but jumped off-stride at the three-quarters in 1:23.4. At that point there was no catching Captain Corey as he just trotted away to win by two and one-quarter lengths over Johan Palema and Take All Comers.

With the winner’s share of the purse at $150,000, Captain Corey surpassed the $1 million mark in career earning. It was his fourth win in just six starts this year. He is trained by Svanstedt for the S R F Stable, Knutson Trotting and the Midnight Sun Partners.

CAPTAIN COREY REPLAY

Lawless Shadow holds off Perfect Sting in $300,000 Max Hempt Memorial Pace

Lawless Shadow ($14.80) and driver Mark MacDonald were able to hold off the late charge of the pocket-sitting Perfect Sting (David Miller) to win the $300,000 Max Hempt Memorial Pace for three-year-old pacing colts. Hellabalou was third.

Lawless Shadow cut fractions of :25.2, :54 and 1:21.2 with Perfect Sting hanging on their back. Then in the stretch Perfect Sting came at Lawless Shadow, but the son of Shadow Play dug in and held on for the win by a neck.

It was the fifth win in ten starts and a lifetime mark of 1:48.2 for Lawless Shadow. He is trained and co-owned by Dr. Ian Moore with the R G Group and Montreal Canadian’s all-star Serge Savard.

LAWLESS SHADOW REPLAY

Darlene Hanover grinds out triumph in $250,000 Delmonica Hanover Trot

Todd McCarthy make it three stakes wins on the day as he drove Darlene Hanover ($13.00) to an impressive 1:51.4 lifetime mark in capturing the inaugural Delmonica Hanover Trot.

It started out with You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory) grinding out to the lead over Flawless Country (Ake Svanstedt) to the first quarter in :26.3 and then the half mile in :55.

Darlene Hanover was the first to attack the leaders, coming first-over in the backstretch and content to grind it out with May Karp (Dexter Dunn) trying to circle the field three-wide as they past the three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Darlene Hanover was able to collar You Ato Dream down the stretch and then pull away from the field to win by three and one-half lengths. Flawless County was second with You Ato Dream third.

It was the second win this year for Darlene Hanover. The Chapter Seven filly is trained by Brett Bittle for Yankeeland Partners of Frederick, MD.

DARLENE HANOVER REPLAY

Stakes record for Grace Hill takes $250,000 James Lynch Memorial Pace

Driver Todd McCarthy scored his second stakes victory of the day with Grace Hill ($7.00) taking the $250,000 James Lynch Memorial Pace for three-year-old fillies.

Grace Hill took the early lead in the race then gave way to Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn) to the first quarter in :26.2. They raced that way to the half in :55 and then in the backstretch Blue Diamond Eyes (Yannick Gingras) came first-over with the race favorite and unbeaten Hot Mess Express (Andy McCarthy) getting second-over cover to the three-quarters in 1:22.

Then in the stretch, Grace Hill was able to shoot to the passing lane for Todd McCarthy and win it all by a half length in 1:49, setting a stakes record. The prior stakes mark was co-held by three horses at 1:49.2. They were American Jewel (2021), Fancy Desire (2014) and Pure Country (2016). Sired by Always B Miki, Grace Hill is trained by Nifty Norman for owner-breeder Tom Hill of Lancashire, UK. It was Grace Hill’s fourth win this year and the 1:49 clocking tied her lifetime best mile.

GRACE HILL REPLAY

Atlanta sets track record in $75,000 Sebastian K Invitational Trot

The world champion trotting mare Atlanta ($3.00) showed great closing speed in winning the $75,000 Sebastian K Invitational with a track record 1:50.1 triumph for driver Yannick Gingras.

Lindy The Great and driver Andy Miller took the early lead away from Atlanta going a :26.4 opening quarter mile. Content to sit the pocket trip, Atlanta followed Lindy The Great to the half mile in :55.2 with only Ready For Moni (Tim Tetrick) coming first-over but unable to gain on the leaders in the backstretch. Through the three-quarters in 1:23.1 it was all Lindy The Great, until the final turn.

That was when Gringas pulled to the outside with Atlanta, they collard Lindy The Great and then held off When Dovescry (David Miller) to win with ease by two and one-half lengths. Lindy The Great was third.

The time of the mile at 1:50.1 surpassed the previous track record of 1:50.3 set by Daylon Miracle in 2015. Atlanta, a six-year-old mare by Chapter Seven, is trained by Ron Burke for Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor. It was her fourth win in six starts this year.

ATLANTA REPLAY

Allywag Hanover tied world record in $75,000 Always B Miki Invitational Pace

Driver Todd McCarthy was the star of the day with four stakes victories. His final win came with a world-record tying performance aboard Allywag Hanover ($11.60) in the $75,000 Always B Miki Invitational Pace.

It was as simple as point and shoot for McCarthy as he sent Allywag Hanover to the lead from post seven and never looked back. He cut fractions of :25.3, :54.3 and 1:20.3 with Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongorno) sitting right on their back the whole mile. Yet, as they came down the stretch, Allywag Hanover was too touch, winning by two lengths in 1:47.2. Nicholas Beach was second with Ruthless Hanover (Corey Callahan) third.

Allywag Hanover, a four-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous, his time of 1:47.2 tied the world record last set by Always At My Place at Pocono Downs in 2015. It was the second straight win and sixth triumph of the year for Allywag Hanover. He is trained by Brett Pelling for the Allywag Stable of Wellsville, PA.

ALLYWAY HANOVER REPLAY

Easy score for Whichwaytothebeach in $200,000 Hempt consolation pace

Whichwaytothebeach ($3.60) posted his sixth win of the season with an easy 1:50.1 lifetime mark in winning the $200,000 Max Hempt Memorial consolation pace for three-year-old colts.

Going right to the early lead for driver Andy McCarthy, Whichwaytothebeach gave way to Mysweetboymax (Yannick Gingras) who took the field to the opening quarter in :26.3, but McCarthy wanted to control the pace and came right back to take command before the half in :54.2.

Billy Clyde (Mark MacDonald) has also left, could not get to the top, could not find a hole and was first-over past the half mile. Then in the backstretch Brookview Bullet (David Miller) tried going three-wide and could not clear as Whichwaytothebeach led past the three-quarters in 1:22.1.

By the top of the stretch McCarthy could taste victory and urged Whichwaytothebeach on to a two and one-quarter length triumph over Mysweetboymax with Gamblin Mo (Tyler Buter) closing for third place. A gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere, Whichwaytothebeach is trained by Brett Pelling and owned by Alan Johnston of Syracuse, NY and John Craig of North York, ON.

WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH REPLAY

Fly Light beats stablemate in $200,000 Earl Beal consolation trot

It was a two-horse dash to the finish in the $200,000 Earl Beal Memorial consolation trot for three-year-old colts and Fly Light ($3.80) fought to the finish and defeated stablemate Capstone (Ake Svanstedt) by one length in a lifetime best 1:52.

It was Zenith Stride (Andy McCarthy) leading from the start to the first quarter in :26.3 with Mon Amour (Andy Miller) sitting the pocket trip through the half mile in :55.1. It was then that Fly Light (Dexter Dunn) started up first-over and flushed stablemate Capstone. Capstone blew by Zenith Stride to take command before the three-quarters in 1:23.4 with Fly Light also coming on and grabbing the two-hole.

Then coming down the stretch, Fly Light came back, collared his stablemate and went on for the victory.

It was the first win this year for Fly Light, who is trained by Svanstedt who co-owns the gelded son of Father Patrick with the Why Not Stable.

FLY LIGHT REPLAY

Nashville Elgenna sneaks up rail to win $125,000 Lynch consolation pace

With a late surge along the rail, Nashville Elgenna ($6.00) and driver Andy McCarthy were able to beat Odds On Whitney to the wire by one and one-half lengths to capture the $125,000 James Lynch Memorial consolation race for three-year-old pacing fillies in a lifetime best 1:50.2 clocking.

Nashville Elgenna was able to take the early lead after a :26.2 opening quarter mile with Mackie Hanover (Matt Kakaley) getting the two-hole spot to the half mile in :55.2. In the backstretch Odds On Whitney (Tim Tetrick) shot by Nashville Elgenna to lead the field at the three-quarters in 1:22 with Paulas Bet Hanover (Michael Whelan) coming first-over.

Coming down the stretch, Nashville Elgenna rallied up the rail to win it all. Odds On Whitney was second with Mackie Hanover third. It was the third win this year for the daughter of Always B Miki. She is trained by Tony Alagna for Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, NY.

NASHVILLE ELGENNA REPLAY

Dazzling Reign upsets in $125,000 Delmonica Hanover consolation trot

Closing with a burst of speed from seventh place at the top of the stretch, Dazzling Reign and driver Todd McCarthy was able to upend the field in capturing the $125,000 Delmonica Hanover consolation trot for three-year-old fillies.

Three early lead changes saw Evening Stroll (Andy McCarthy) on the lead by the opening quarter mile in :27.1. After the half in :56.2, Evening Stoll was in command with Goo Goo Doll (Matt Kakaley) coming first-over but unable to reach the race leader.

After the three-quarters in 1:25, Evening Stroll was up by two lengths starting down the stretch but was beginning to tire. Aunt Irene (Dexter Dunn) had late trot coming to the wire and Above The Clouds (David Miller) found room along the rail was in contention.

None of them could hold off Dazzling Reign as she bolted down the stretch to win by a half length in 1:55.1. Aunt Irene was second with Above The Clouds third.

It was the fifth win this year for Dazzling Reign. The daughter of Father Patrick is trained by Claude Huckabone for owner James Crawford of Erieville, NY. She paid $15.60 to win.

DAZZLING REIGN REPLAY

Lou’s Pearlman takes $100,000 Hempt consolation pace

With a quarter move to take command away from Highlandbeachsbest, driver Yannick Gingras and Lou’s Pearlman, the 6/5 favorite crushed the field in capturing the $100,000 Hempt Memorial Consolation Pace winning by nine lengths in 1:48.4. Always A Miki (Dexter Dunn) was second with Exploit (Tim Tetrick) third.

After taking command at the quarter in :27.2, Lou’s Pearlman cut fractions of :54.4 and 1:21.3 before tearing away from the field.

It was the third win this year for Lou’s Pearlman, a three-year-old colt by Sweet Lou, trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Novak. He paid $4.60 to win.

 

LOU’S PEARLMAN REPLAY

For full race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink