Gallie Bythe Beach Stays Unbeaten in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Action at Pocono

August 7, 2013
Gallie Bythe Beach continued her impressive career-opening winning streak with a hard-fought victory to highlight Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There were four Sire Stakes races held for 2-year-old fillies on the pace, with purses ranging from $68,333 to $68,734.
Gallie Bythe Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Galleria), who came into Wednesday night’s action with wins in each of her first four lifetime starts, took to the front end around the first turn and was still there at the end by a head after a tough stretch battle. John Campbell drove Gallie Bythe Beach, the 1-5 favorite, for Jim Campbell as the filly won in 1:52:4. Southwind Silence made it close late with a furious inside rally, while Beach Body finished third.
In other Sire Stakes action, Stucklikeglue (Dragon Again-Ruth Plumsted) picked up a memorable maiden victory with a pylon-skimming ride to zip by the leaders late. Matt Kakaley did the driving for trainer Ron Burke, as Stucklikeglue turned her sixth lifetime start into her first career win by a half-length in 1:53:1 at 7-1. Sister Stroll finished second while 6-5 favorite Rusty’s Bliss faded to third after leading most of the way.
Extra Desire (Art Official-R Burning Desire) continued the trend of maidens surprising in the Sire Stakes with a late-kicking victory in the second division at 12-1. Tyler Buter was in the bike for trainer Paul Kennedy as Extra Desire scored in her third career start in 1:52:4. Bahama Blue finished second while One Jazzy Lady picked up the show. The 4-5 favorite Put On A Display coughed up the lead late and finished fifth.
Tyra (McArdle-Perrilla) used front-pacing speed to capture the final division comfortably by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:52:4. With Tim Tetrick in the bike for trainer Joann Looney-King, Tyra, the 8-5 second choice, went all the way on the front end for her third victory in just four career races. 6-5 favorite Also Encouraging had to settle for best of the rest while Quick Thrill came on for third.
 

Pierce and Butenschoen Star in Stallion Series at Pocono

August 6, 2013
Driver Ron Pierce and trainer John Butenschoen were the big winners on Tuesday night in Stallion Series action at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There were six divisions of the Series held for 2-year-old fillies on the pace, each race carrying a purse of $20,000.
Pierce drove three of the six Stallion Series winners, while Butenschoen is the trainer for two of the winners. Pierce and Butenschoen joined forces to win the fourth division with McVita Bella (Somebeachsomewhere-Cheyenne Sabrina), who scored in 1:54:2.
Other Stallion Series winners on the night were: Dragon Town (Dragon Again-Town Pro Miss), driven by Pierce and trained by Sam DePinto, in 1:54:4; Lasting Appeal (The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest), driven by Pierce and trained by Bob McIntosh, in 1:54; Seashell Hanover (Somebeachsmoewhere-Stolly Up Bluechip), driven by Doug McNair and trained by Gregg McNair, in 1:52:4; Mayabelle (McArdle-Crisis), driven by Mike Simons and trained by Butenschoen, in 1:53:3; and Weeper (Allamerican Native-Pleasant Yet Bad), driven David Miller and trained by Kelly O’Donnell, in 1:52.
 

Momma’s Jolt and Mcalvin Star in Stallion Series at Pocono

August 28, 2012
Momma’s Jolt and Mcalvin each completed sweeps of the four preliminary legs of the Stallion Series for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the pace with victories on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There were eight Stallion Series divisions held at Pocono on Tuesday night, each carrying a purse of $20,000.
Momma’s Jolt (Village Jolt-Prettiestgalintown), owned by Fashion Farms LLC, trained by Jim Campbell, and driven by Matt Kakaley, won his split in 1:53:3. Mcalvin (McArdle-Grand Style), owned by Julie Krenitsky, trained by Bob Krenitsky Jr., and driven by Eric Ledford, took his division in 1;54:2.
Trainer Brian Brown had a huge night, winning four of the eight Stallion Series divisions.
Other Stallion Series winners at Pocono on Tuesday night: Modern Warfare (The Panderosa-Modern Life), owned by Country Club Acres, Vaupel, Mallett, and Leeman, trained by Brian Brown, and driven by David Miller, in 1:54:1; Come And Get’em (Western Terror-Cheryl Hanover), owned by VCS Racing LLC, trained by Brian Brown, and driven by David Miller, in 1:53; Broadway Cruiser (Yankee Cruiser-Misnomer), owned by Richard Latessa, trained by John Oliverio, and driven by George Napolitano Jr., in 1:53:4; Moonliteonthebeach (Somebeachsomewhere-Sweet Paprika), owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock, Kimelman, Baird, and Demeter, trained by Eddie Hart, and driven by Joe Pavia Jr., in 1:52:4; Storm The Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Maple Lady), owned by James Stambaugh, Milton Leeman, and Charles Wingfield, trained by Brian Brown, and driven by Tim Tetrick; and Normandy Invasion (Somebeachsomewhere-Under Your Spell), owned by Country Club Acres, Mike Mallett, and William Robinson, trained by Brian Brown, and driven by Tim Tetrick, in 1:52:4.

Heavy Favorites Win Sire Stakes at Pocono

August 11, 2012
Odds-on favorites Economy Terror, Big McDeal, and Darena Hanover all delivered in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The purses for the three Sire Stakes divisions ranged from $104,229 to $104,630.
Economy Terror (Western Terror-Mattatonic), who went off as the 1-9 favorite in the first split, led much of the way but had to hold on late for a tight victory in 1:50:3. Dave Palone guided the filly home by a neck over a fast-closing Kiss Dont Bite with Marty Party finishing 3rd. Owned by Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor, and Edwin Gold and trained by Chris Oakes, Economy Terror won her second straight Sire Stakes race in her attempt to defend the Pennsylvania state championship she won at Pocono as a 2-year-old.
Big McDeal (McArdle-Ideal Gal), at 3-5, controlled matters on the front end to win her split in convincing fashion. Driver Jody Jamieson sent the filly from the Benjamin Wallace barn to the lead with a quick move on the front stretch, and she held off all comers from that point to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:50:2. Moonlit Dragon closed on the inside for 2nd while Destiny’s Chance managed the show. Owned by Bradley Grant, Big McDeal has now won her last two Sire Stakes races, with her previous victory coming in world-record time at The Meadows.
Darena Hanover (Yankee Cruiser-Dashaway Hanover) took the final split in gate-to-wire fashion at 1-5, although she really had to hustle home to hold off hard-charging Lightning Paige in 2nd and Dream Of Winning in 3rd. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and trained by Ron Burke, the filly won by ¾ lengths in 1:51 with Matt Kakaley in the bike. Darena Hanover now has been in the money in 10 of 11 starts this season with four victories.

Meirs Hanover Matches Track Record in Open Win at Pocono

July 7, 2012
Meirs Hanover matched a track record at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with his victory in 1:48:1 in Saturday night’s featured Open pace. The race carried a purse of $50,000.
Meirs Hanover, a 5-year-old stallion from the Ron Burke barn looking for a bounce back after breaking stride in the Ben Franklin final due to interference, left from post position #2 in the field of eight as a 6-1 shot and found the pocket early behind pacesetting 6-5 favorite Golden Receiver. The leader had to fight off pressure from Rockincam on the front stretch and Dial Or Nodial on the back, leading to sizzling fractions of 26:1, 53:2, and 1:20:1.
In the stretch, driver Matt Kakaley tipped Meirs Hanover into the passing lane and he rallied past the game Golden Receiver to win by a half-length. Special T Rocks came on for 3rd. The winning time of 1:48:1 matched the Pocono record for aged pacing stallions that was set just two weeks ago in the Franklin eliminations by Aracache Hanover.
Meirs Hanover, the offspring of Artsplace and Mary Mattgalane and owned by Burke Racing Stable, Van Dusen, Cimaglio, and Strollin Stable, won for the 4th time in 14 2012 races. It was his 21st career victory, giving him lifetime earnings of $460,207.
In addition to the Open pace, Grand Circuit Week continued at Pocono with three $50,000 divisions each of the 3-year-old colts and geldings on the trot and on the pace. On the trotting side, the winners were: Fashion Astral (Broadway Hall-Lindy Lane), owned by Fashion Farms LLC, trained by Jim Campbell, and driven by Matt Kakaley, in 1:54:4; Nothing But Class (Andover Hall-Bold Dreamer), owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Louie Camara, and Jan Hoibye, and trained and driven by Jimmy Takter, in 1:54:2; and Uncle Peter (Cantab Hall-Victory Treasure), owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, and Falkbolagen Ab, and trained and driver by Jimmy Takter, in 1:52:3.
On the pacing side, the winners were Mcerlean (McArdle-Igottwowordsforyou), owned by Muscara Racing Trust, trained by Trond Smedshammer, and driven by Matt Kakaley, in 1:51:1; Star Recruit (Dragon Again-Remarkable Star), owned by Carter, Carter, Reid, and Grubbs, trained by Bruce Riegle, and driven by Tony Hall, in 1:51:4; and I Like Dreamin (McArdle-I’m Not Dreamin), owned by Lomangino Standardbreds and Leo Lomangino, trained by Sam DePinto, and driven by George Napolitano Jr., in 1:51:4.