Trotting Fillies Obliterate Records at Pocono in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Action

July 18, 2012
All three winners of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs went faster than the existing track record for three-year-old trotting fillies, with Holier Than Thou matching a world record in her division win as a 27-1 long shot. There were three divisions of the Sire Stakes held at Pocono for the sophomore distaff trotters with purses ranging from $99,503 to $99,907.
Maven (Glidemaster-M Stewart), who was fresh off a win in the Reynolds at The Meadowlands and was made the 1-9 favorite, started the record-breaking off with a 7 ¼ length win in her division with Yannick Gingras in the bike. Uncommon Night was 2nd, while Can’t Have My Moni was further back in 3rd.
Trained by Jonas Czernyson and owned by W J Donovan, Maven now has 11 wins in 17 lifetime starts. The winning time of 1:53:2 broke the Pocono mark for her age group of 1:53:4, which was set in August of 2010 by Christiana Hanover and matched a month later by Pictures Of Millie.
Superstar Hanover (Cantab Hall-Star Hanover), trained and driven by Jimmy Takter, atoned for a loss at 1-9 two starts ago at Pocono by winning the second Sire Stakes division in 1:53:3. The filly, owned by Christina Takter, Louie Camara, and John Fielding, held off fast closing Real Babe in 2nd and Oasis Dream in 3rd.
In the final Sire Stakes split, Holier Than Thou (Cantab Hall-Sunday Yankee), again featuring the connections of Gingras, Czernyson, and Donovan, rallied from way back for a 2 ¾ length win in 1:53:1, resetting the track mark and matching the world record on a 5/8 oval for 3-year-old trotting fillies held by Hiddden Viggorish. Holier Than Thou, a 27-1 shot, more than doubled her lifetime earnings with the big purse. Favorite Valdonna finished 2nd while Aren’t I Hanover grabbed the show.

Mike Lachance wins four W.N. Reynolds Memorial Races at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

WILKES-BARRE, PA —Mike Lachance won four of the seven W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stake races Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
On day three of Grand Circuit Week, Lachance got things start in the opening division of the Meda for three-year-old trotting fillies. He was in the sulky with the heavily favored Devilish Emerald, who trotted the mile in 1:59.3.
Bill Zendt trains Devilish Emerald, now two for two lifetime after winning in her debut at the Meadows in 1:58.2.
“She’s a little hot but has a lot of speed,” said Lachance of Devilish Emerald in the winner’s circle.
“”I’d rather one a little hot than a lazy horse. She’s perfect right now.”
Lachance also won the first division of the Tar Heel for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, guiding 2-5 favorite Pang Shui to a victory in 1:51. Ray Schnittker trains this winner.
Easy Agenda, trained by Jimmy Takter, was Lachance’s next winner. He went wire to wire with the 8-5 shot and stopped the timer in 2:00.3.
The fourth Reynolds victory of the evening came with Aled Hanover, trained by Richard Norman. Aled Hanover was winning for the third time in eight starts this season.
Time of 1:51 was a new life mark for Aled Hanover.
Dave Palone owns the stakes record for most wins on a single night’s card with five.
George Napolitano Jr., the track’s leading driver, collected a Tar Heel victory with Eagle Jolt. The three-year-old Village Jolt gelding, trained by Mark Ford, stopped the timer in 1:52.3, a new life mark.
Veteran driver Roger Hammer drove Lyrical Lady to a Meda win in the second division of four for the young trotting gals. Trained by Walter (Boots) Dunn, Lyrical Lady won in 1:58.3.
It was a front end victory for Lyrical Lady.
Open handicap pace winner was Golden Receiver, piloted by Joe Pavia Jr. The five-year-old gelding, trained by Mark Harder, won in 1:50. This was the seventh win in 22 starts this season with earnings approaching the $150,000 mark with the victory.