Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 25, 2010)—Big Bad John, a two-year-old Western Hanover colt, turned in an impressive 1:53 victory in the third division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
With David Miller in the sulky, Big Bad John sat second or third for three-quarters of the race before winning by a length and a quarter over Something For Doc (Brett Miller) with third-place going to 4-5 favorite McSocks (John Campbell).
“He’s coming along real well,” said Miller of Big Bad John in the winner’s circle. “He won very handily. I got to the outside and he took right off. “
Miller said trainer Ron Potter and the owners are pointing this freshman pacer to the Breeders Crown that will be taking place at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs October 9.
In the most exciting finish of the four divisions, carrying purses of more than $73,000, it was Hugadragon (Matt Kakaley) edging Alsace Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Mystic Desire (Tetrick) at the wire. This mile was timed in 1:53.1.
Ron Burke trains Hugadragon, a 15-1 longshot winner.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” said young Kakaley. “I got into him a little bit at the top of the stretch. He raced super today.”
Reckless Ric, trained by George Teague Jr. and driven by Howard Parker, found the winner’s circle in another sire stakes race for the freshman pacers, winning in 1:52.4, fastest of the stakes events.
“My horse couldn’t wait to shake loose after sitting second for three-quarters of the race,” said the veteran Parker.
“This was a big mile and he finished strong in the last eighth of a mile. He’s a big strong colt.”
Mr Carmine Fra (Brett Miller) finished second to Reckless Ric after being on the front end at the half and three quarters. Third went to Sky Mesa (David Miller), the opening quarter leader.
Twilight Artist, trained by Roger Hammer and driven by Tim Tetrick, overcame the eight hole to win the final division in 1:53.1.
It was a wire to wire victory for Twilight Artist, who now has six wins in eight starts, winning the Arden at the Meadows, The Stallion Series at Harrah’s Chester Downs and fair races at Honesdale and Gratz.
Twilight Artist was quickly taken to the front in the race.
“Hammer’s horses could leave and I relaxed him on the front,” said Tetrick following the race.
Tetrick got to the half in 57.2 after the opening split was timed in 27.3.
It was a half length win over Movie Idol (Corey Callahan) while finishing third was Keystone Velocity (Kakaley).
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 24, 2010)—Cheyenne Umberto, making only his second career start, won by a whisker over Voice Of Truth (Mark Lewis) in a thrilling stretch drive between the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
The stretch duel between the freshman pacers came in the eighth and final division of The Stallion Series. The divisions carried purses of $20,000 each.
Trained by Robert Siegelman and driven by Andy Miller, Cheyenne Umberto stopped the timer in 1:53.1, fastest of The Stallion Series at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Miller also collected another stakes win on the night with freshman pacer Ishmael’s Brother, a winner in 1:55.4. Erv Miller trains Ishmael’s Brother.
Trainer Miller won his second stakes win of the evening with Panfully Cool, driven by Matt Kakaley. This mile was timed in 1:55.3.
Jim Morrill Jr., who had five wins through 13 races, won two of The Stallion Series divisions with Storyofmylife and Jackson Killean. Storyofmylife won in 1:56.1 for trainer Paul Reid.
Jackson Killean, trained by Tye Loy, stopped the timer in 1:54.2, winning by a head over Rush Hanover (Mike Simons).
Opening divisional victor was Town Treasure, driven by Kevin Sizer. Town Treasure, trained by Jim Ray, held of Dreamzzzz R For U (Andrew McCarthy) at the wire. This mile went n 1:56.2.
Another thrilling finish occurred in the third division of the series with Draconian (Ben Stafford Jr.) winning by a nose over Vegas Rusty (David Miller). Time of the mile was 1:54.2.
David Miller won a division with Sharp West Hanover, necking out Border Fighting (Matt Kakaley) at the wire. Time of this race was 1:54.1. Don Swick conditions Sharp West Hanover.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be hosting The Stallion Series championships on September 3 and 7.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 23, 2010)—Mattox’s Spencer, moving up in the claiming ranks, produced a 1:53.1 victory over a sloppy racetrack Monday evening at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
In the featured $20,000 claiming race for horses, colts and geldings, Mattox’s Spencer sat third for the opening split after leaving from the No. 1 post with Matt Kakaley in the sulky.
Kakaley made his move before the clubhouse turn to become the new leader after Mountain Air (Larry Stalbaum) took the eight-horse field to the opening quarter in 27 seconds.
Mattox’s Spencer, a five-year-old Camluck gelding trained by Kent Sherman, got to the half in 55.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.3 before winning in 1:53.1.
Native Lightning (George Napolitano Jr.) finished second, 4 and ¼ lengths behind with Red Star Tomahawk (Eric Goodell) third.
James J. Guagliardo of Wyoming, Pa., claimed Mattox’s Spencer for $15,000 when the pacer was a winner in 1:51 with Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike August 11.
The victory was the sixth in 25 starts in 2010 for Mattox’s Spencer, who this season at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, won three straight with Sherman as the trainer.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 18, 2010)—Omen Hanover showed her toughness Wednesday night in winning the $24,000 open handicap pace for fillies and mares at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
After sitting on the outside for more than a quarter of the race, Omen Hanover (Matt Kakaley) grabbed the lead from Four Starz Horndog (Anthony Napolitano) just before the three-eighths pole.
Opening quarter was clicked off in 26.3 with Four Starz Horndog in front in the six-horse field. Omen Hanover got to the half in 55.3 and received another challenge just before the three-quarter pole with Marietta Hall grabbing a brief lead. Time was 1:24.1 for the three quarters.
Omen Hanover dug in and wouldn’t let the second-place finishing horse clear, winning by one length and three quarters. Third in this race was China Gal (Mike Simons).
This was the seventh win in 26 starts for Omen Hanover, trained by Nick Surick. Omen Hanover, a six-year-old Western Hanover mare, has won for than $145,000 in 2010 and established her life mark of 1:50.4 in one of those wins at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 17, 2010)—Hi Maintenancechic, driven by Tony Morgan, captured her second Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory of the 2010 season Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Trained by Kirsten Proctor, Hi Maintenancechic exchanged leads with Whatrugonnado (David Miller) during the race and held off a fast-closing Fashion Mystery (Matt Kakaley) to win in 1:53.1.
Hi Maintenancechic took this seven-horse field of two-year-old filly pacers to the opening split in 27.36 before Whatrugonnado went to the front at the half with the timer reading 56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.1 followed by the race winner.
Also producing a 1:53.1 win was In Deep Thought (Tim Curtin). Curtin came first over to take the lead at the half and won by a length over Foxy Lady (Kakaley).
Robert Reeser trains In Deep Thought.
Nutmegs Yankee, driven by Dave Palone and trained by Brian Brown, captured the opening division with a time of 1:54.3. Second in this race was 4-5 favorite Career Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.).
“The key to the win was being left alone on the front end,” said Palone in the winner’s circle. “I was loose on the front end and we just sprinted home. Jimmy (Morrill Jr.) didn’t want to cut the mile with his horse.”
Brian Brown trains Nutmegs Yankee, also a winner of two Pa. Sire Stakes races this season.
Day To Ponder, trained by Robert McIntosh and driven by David Miller, was another stakes winner. This mile went in 1:53.3.
Brett Miller drove Cold Mist to a win in another of the five divisions. Time of the mile was 1:53.3. Steve Elliott trains Cold Mist, who was collecting her first maiden victory.
