T C I, Security Protected capture PASS at Pocono

T C I (Cantab Hall) and Security Protected (Father Patrick) scored in harness racing divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes held on Sunday night (Aug. 13) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Each of the two races for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings carried a purse of $78,680.

T C I, a two-year-old colt trained by Ron Burke, rolled to his fourth consecutive victory, a streak which now includes three straight Pennsylvania Sire Stakes wins. As a 1-5 favorite leaving from post position #3 in a field of eight on the five-eighths mile Pocono oval, he retook the lead early from Crown Monarch and had no issues from there. David Miller guided T C I home seven lengths in front of second place Highly Motivated in 1:55. Bird and Grenade finished third.

T C I REPLAY

Security Protected can also now claim victories in three Sire Stakes in a row following his win for trainer Marcus Melander on Sunday night. Leaving from post position #4 in a field of seven as an even-money favorite, the two-year-old colt got away third and waited to make his move until the back stretch, when driver Brian Sears coaxed him past pacesetter Breezy Hall. In the lane, Security Protected withstood the late pursuit of Memorynimagination to win it by a length in a career-best 1:55:4. Carrera Hanover picked up the show.

SECURITY PROTECTED REPLAY

In addition to the Sire Stakes on Sunday night at Pocono, there were also five $20,000 divisions in The Stallion Series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The Stallion Series winners were: Executive Game (Matt Kakaley, Jim Campbell) in 1:57:2; Lonely Lakewood (Anthony MacDonald, Megan Scran) in 1:58:2; Casanova Hall (Tyler Buter, Nifty Norman) in 1:57:2; Smarter Than You (David Miller, Ron Burke) in 1:56:4; and Attis Rock (Jim Pantaleano, Donald Wiest) in 1:58:4.

Live racing at Pocono resumes on Monday afternoon (August 14) with a first post time of 1 PM ET. There are 14 races on the Pocono Monday program.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Jim Beviglia, for Pocono Downs