The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Week in Review

In this edition of the Week in Review, we take a look back at all the action of Sun Stakes Saturday at Pocono, specifically the biggest stakes races of the day. Here are all the highlights from a day of racing that fans at Pocono won’t soon forget.

Sebastian K Invitational ($75,000 for trotters)

The legendary mare Atlanta was understandably made the 1-2 favorite in the field of nine and she did not disappoint. With Yannick Gingras in the bike, she worked out a pocket trip behind pacesetter Lindy The Great and then pounced in the lane. When the dust cleared, Atlanta, trained by Burke, had trotted away to a victory in 1:50:1, which was a new track record for aged trotting mares.

James M. Lynch Memorial ($250,000 for three-year-old pacing fillies)

Grace Hill, trained by Nifty Norman and driven by Todd McCarthy, basically replayed the results of the Shady Daisy at the Meadowlands two weeks prior. Working out the trip behind her stablemate Fire Start Hanover, she shot out of the pocket for the rallying victory, scoring in 1:49. Getting away as the 5-2 third choice on the board, Grace Hill won her third straight stakes race.

Delmonica Hanover Stakes ($250,000 for three-year-old trotting fillies)

In the inaugural edition of this race, You Ato Dream was out leading the way for much of the mile. But once Todd McCarthy set Darlene Hanover, trained by Brett Bittle, in motion first-over, there was no stopping her. At odds of 5-1, she swept by You Ato Dream and trotted home a winner in 1:52:2 for her second six-figure stakes victory of the year.

Max C. Hempt Memorial ($300,000 for three-year-old open pacers)

In the day’s closest battle, Lawless Shadow, winner of the Meadowlands Pace earlier this summer, set the pace. But he faced a serious challenge from Perfect Sting, who was looking for a signature win in his three-year-old season. Driven by Mark MacDonald for trainer Ian Moore, Lawless Shadow gritted out the win by a nose at 6-1 in a career-best 1:48:2.

Earl Beal Jr. Memorial ($300,000 for three-year-old open trotters)

In his first race since winning the Hambletonian two weeks ago, Captain Corey, trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, was part of a 1-9 favorite entry with stablemate Delayed Hanover. Once the colt made the front end, where he loves to operate, you knew he would be tough to catch. Captain Corey glided home from there by a 1 ¾ lengths over Johan Palema, another Svanstedt trainee, in 1:51.

Always B Miki Invitational ($75,000 for pacers)

In the day’s final race, Allywag Hanover, trained by Brett Pelling, sent the crowd home on an impressive note. It also concluded a big day for driver Todd McCarthy, as he put the seven-year-old gelding on the engine and let him do the rest. Despite a challenge from favorite Nicholas Beach, Allywag Hanover, who was coming off wins in two six-figure stakes races at the Big M, delivered the victory as a 9-2 second choice in 1:47:2, the day’s fastest time and one that matched a world record for four-year-old geldings on a 5/8-mile oval.