Wilkes-Barre, PA – Victoriana’s Secret, despite having to come first-over in the lane, used superior talent to power off to victory in the $250,000 Grade 1 Delmonica Hanover Stake at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 22), with the time of 1:51.2 equaling the stake and track record set by Yo Tillie in the same race a year ago.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. got the Tactical Landing filly away in fourth from the rail as Pennsylvania-based Little Road, sent off as the favorite, went right to the top and forced opponents to take seats behind her to the :27 quarter. Setyoursightshigh, last year’s divisional champion, was rushed to the lead in front of the stands and reached the half in :55.2, just as the winner began her outside move.
Victorianas Secret inexorably gained ground the length of the backstretch and was battling with the pacesetter at the 1:23.3 three-quarters; nearing the middle of the turn she had taken a short lead. Custom was on her back and tipped wide to mount a stretch challenge; she did well, but Victorianas Secret stayed sturdy and won by half a length. Longshot Crossover claimed third; Little Road was shuffled when the leader tired and was not a late factor.
Largely unheralded until late spring, Victorianas Secret has put herself squarely in contention for divisional recognition, winning five of her last six starts, including a 1:50 at Lexington two weeks ago. The Vernon Brachy trainee has now boosted her earnings to $410,531 for owner Ryan Smith.
Beal and Hempt Consolations $200,000 and $100,000; Delmonica Hanover and Lynch Consolations $125,000 and $75,000
SECOND LEVEL CONSOLATIONS
DELMONICA HANOVER II– The Tactical Landing filly Isabella Bi sat in third, backed out behind clearing first-up favorite Nuance nearing the far turn, then was able to gradually wear down the chalk by a head, with the 1:51.4 final time, just two-fifths off the divisional track record set by Yo Tillie in the Delmonica Hanover Final last year. Newly-elected Hall of Famer Ake Svanstedt drove Isabella Bi, a 9-1 proposition who took off her shoes for the contest, trains her, and co-owns her with Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Little E LLC, and Mr Lars Olsson.
LYNCH CONSOLATION II – Amira Hanover, a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover, set sail out of the gate, forcing favored Big Weekend into the pocket, then drew clear of that rival and the rest of the field throughout the last half, winning by 9-3/4 lengths while taking a new mark of 1:50.1. Joe Bongiorno drove and trains the impressive winner, second choice at 9-5, for Odds On Racing.
BEAL CONSOLATION II – Highball Hanover, a daughter of Bar Hopping who had won at odds-on in her last two Pocono starts, paid a bit higher than that — $79.20 — after lowering her mark to 1:52.3 for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Noel Daley, and owners Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing (partners in both group II consolation winners), Sjoblom Racing & M. Dolan, Caviart Farms, and P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc. Highball Hanover came with a big move down the backstretch, avoided two breakers to get the lead with an eighth left, and then withstood Create Escape by three quarters of a length.
HEMPT CONSOLATION II – Favored Toast Of The Town looked like he might be in a spot of trouble when he was parked well past a :25.3 opening number, but the Sweet Lou gelding and driver Jason Bartlett were not bothered at all, drawing clear through the latter stages of the mile to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:48.4, just a tick off the lifetime mark he set when last at Pocono. Noel Daley recorded a second consecutive consolation II win with the fast pacer, owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Morrison Racing Stables, Jesmeral Stable, and Alberg Racing LLC.
FIRST LEVEL CONSOLATIONS
LYNCH CONSOLATION I – Pocono’s leading driver Tyler Buter largely avoided first turn confusion with Say Goodnight, a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover and her divisional PaSS champion last season, got her moving quickly down the backstretch to clear to the lead past favorite Lavender Seelster nearing the far turn, then kept her alive to withstand a resurgence by the favorite by a half length to win in a career best 1:50.1.Nicholas Devita trains the winner for owners David Hamm and Glenn Phillips.
DELMONICA HANOVER CONSOLATION I – Favored Busy Miss Lissy S was making a frontward move on the first turn when she lapsed from gait, and though catching in decent order was still seventh late on the backstretch. But Dexter Dunn got the filly, also shoeless, into a high gear and into a good far turn flow, and the victorious daughter of Calgary Games just kept on coming through the lane to just catch Southwind Chaska by a nose in a 1:52.4 mile. Ake Svanstedt trained both Delmonica Hanover consolation winners, this one for Panamera Racing.
HEMPT CONSOLATION I – Thai Hanover showed in his last line a 1:57.4 win at the Washington (PA) Fair on Monday, almost three seconds faster than any other winner at the former Arden Downs, but the crowd was not impressed and dismissed him at 44-1. Their minds were changed in 1:50.1 when Dexter Dunn gave him a second-over trip and the altered son of Stay Hungry paced past everybody in the later stages, winning by 1-3/4 lengths. Trainer Mitchell York shares ownership with wife Erin.
BEAL CONSOLATION I – Dexter Dunn made it three level-one consolations in a row when he won with the Muscle Hill gelding Nix Nacken, and the sophomore did it in style, with a consistent forward gear despite being uncovered before the half and crossing the wire in 1:51.1, a clocking which reduced the Pocono record for 3-year-old geldings, established by Pinkman 11 years ago, by two fifths. Marcus Melander conditions the powerful trotter for Courant Inc.