Wilkes-Barre, PA — Two of the hottest trainers in harness racing each sent out a 2-year-old pacing filly who together produced a great stretch duel Tuesday afternoon (July 14) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, as Notorious Pink from the Tony Alagna stable made her debut a successful one by edging the Nancy Takter barn’s JK Alwaysbalady by a head in 1:53.4.

Tim Tetrick sent Notorious Pink (Captaintreacherous–She’s a Hot Mess) to the lead at the eighth pole around her favored rival, reaching the first station in a leisurely :29.3. Yannick Gingras decided to put JK Alwaysbalady (by Horses of the Year Always B Miki and JK She’salady), a 1:52.1 winner in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes company in her last start, on the lead in front of the stands, increasing the tempo to :57.3 and leaving all but the pocket sitter in their wake.

The positions remained unchanged past a 1:26 three-quarters and to headstretch, where Tetrick pulled Notorious Pink out and gained a head advantage by mid-stretch. But that’s all she would ever lead by, as the pacesetter dug in tenaciously, and was just out-sprinted in the :27.4 dash home.

Notorious Pink, who had had a 1:55 qualifier at Gaitway before this race, offers lots of promise for owners Alagna Racing, Steven Head, John Fodera, and Riverview Racing.

A freshman son of Captaintreacherous-Code One Hanover went even faster later on the card, when Crunch Hanover was along in time over Lindysalwaysthinkn in 1:53.

Lindysalwaysthinkn wouldn’t surrender the lead when challenged by the winner, so Scott Zeron took the pocket and waited to take another shot in the stretch. Nearing the wire Crunch Hanover went on to take a half-length decision over the pacesetter for trainer Linda Toscano and the partnership of Enviro Stables, South Mountain Stables, R-And-I Farms, and The Bay’s Stable.

The sophomore Kadabra trotting filly P L Notsonice, coming off a second in a division of an Ontario Sire Stakes Gold event, made short work of her opposition while taking a new mark of 1:54. Driver Renaldo Morales III sent the Joe Skowyra-trained distaff on a big move early and secured control of the throttle, then was unchallenged in a :56.3 back half, winning by 9-1/4 lengths. P L Notsonice, third in the Peaceful Way final last year, is co-owned by Morales and Prince Lee Acres.