Wilkes-Barre, PA — Marsala Hanover, one of the top Pennsylvania-sired fillies over the past two seasons, took a new mark of 1:50 in her co-featured $15,300 distaff pace on Tuesday afternoon (July 13) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Marsala Hanover rode the pocket and lifted to victory in Tuesday’s top distaff pace at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Marsala Hanover sat in the pocket for driver Scott Zeron behind Classicist through fractions of :26.3, :54.4 and 1:22.2. Classicist proved a tough rival to overhaul late, but Zeron, guiding his third winner on the day, rallied the 3-year-old Captaintreacherous filly to a half-length decision for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Let It Ride Stables Inc., Bottom Line Racing LLC, South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC.

After a string of narrow misses, Sweet Lou gelding Tru Lou became reacquainted with the winner’s circle in the divisional feature for male pacers. Tru Lou left sharply for driver Matt Kakaley, made the top well before the :27 quarter, then slowed the half down to :56.1. Things sped up when Coalition Hanover charged forward up the backstretch to push three-quarters to 1:23.4, with Mankat waiting for the Pocono Pike and Cigar Smoking Tony slipping off the pylons to follow cover and then circle it.

In the end, Cigar Smoking Tony proved the biggest threat, closing to within a neck, but Tru Lou still had a :26.3 last quarter in him to stop the timer in 1:50.2. Ron Burke, also a three-time winner on the day, trains the fast 4-year-old for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc., and Slaughter Racing Stable LLC.

On the trot, Beyond Ordinary cleared quickly from the outside post nine and went wire-to-wire in 1:53.4, his second straight win and just a fifth of a second off his lifetime best. Marcus Miller rated the son of Kadabra through fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.1, then stayed strong and proved three lengths better than first-over challenger SVF Blushingbride. Jenny Melander trains the handy trotter for her Melander Racing Inc. and Noonan Harness Racing LLC.

Racing resumes on Saturday afternoon (July 17) at 12:30 p.m.; on Sunday’s (July 18) 5 p.m. twilight card, four first-round Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winners are among the entrants in two $35,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars event for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.