Wilkes-Barre, PA — Trainer Ron Burke sent out winners in three of the four $30,000 divisions of Pennsylvania All-Stars competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Saturday night (July 13). Simon Allard drove two of the successful freshman fillies for Burke, including the fastest winner, Shouldabeenatd, who crossed the wire first in 1:52.3.

Allard left with the Sweet Lou–Breakheart Pass filly then let Lyons Sentinel go to the top before the :27.2 quarter; that one in turn gave way to favored Firefly in front of the stands, and she went on to the half in :56, with Shouldabeenatd coming back for more first-over and battling the leader to the 1:24.1 three-quarters.

Shouldabeenatd crossed the wire first in 1:52.3. Curtis Salonick photo.

Neither of the frontenders gave an inch around the turn and into the stretch, where Lyons Sentinel joined them in the Pocono Pike. Shouldabeenatd showed tenacity late in putting up a head decision over Lyons Sentinel, with Firefly fading slightly late to be another length back. The winner is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

The Burke/Allard combination won in the All-Stars earlier when the A Rocknroll Dance–Liscaramore miss Dance Club notched her first purse win in 1:53.2. Dance Club made two early moves then sat in the two-hole while All In Fun and favored Wayside dueled on the front end, then cleared in the lane and paced off to a 1-3/4 length victory over All In Fun for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services Inc., and David Wills.

Mike Simons was in the sulky for Burke when the Somebeachsomewhere–Palazzo Princess distaff Sailaja Deo took her All-Stars event in 1:56 in her purse debut. Simons had Sailaja Deo in the pocket behind pacesetting favorite Silver Tail, shifted outside when first-over Blood Red got by the pacesetter late on the turn, then ducked back inside and caught Blood Red by a head for owners Burke Racing Stable, Phil Collura, Lawrence Karr, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby.

None of the Burke winners was favored by the Pocono faithful, but the fourth divisional winner, the Captaintreacherous–Cashaway filly Lyons Monatize, did reward the crowd’s backing as she won by the largest margin, 2-1/2 lengths, in 1:55.1 for driver Jim Morrill Jr. The Gareth Dowse trainee stepped home in :27.4 with no pressure to take her initial purse start for owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound.

In a $21,500 fast-class co-featured pace, Soho Wallstreet A utilized the rail to secure pocket positioning, then rallied to post a 1:50.2 triumph. Pat Berry guided the Four Starzzz Shark gelding, now a winner of $331,613, for trainer Scott DiDomenico and J G Racing Stable.

Morrill and Burke both recorded five victories on the night, combining with Always At My Place and Mystery Island after the All-Stars races had been completed. Burke Racing Stable owns a share of all of the Burke quintet.