from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — A season’s leader for 2-year-old pacing colts on five-eighths-mile tracks (De Los Cielos Deo) and mile tracks (No Mas Amor), both from the powerful Ron Burke stable, will start side-by-side in the fifth and final division of a first round Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on Saturday evening (July 14) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

De Los Cielos Deo was the fastest of Pennsylvania All-Stars winners here on July 1, putting in a :27 last quarter to stop the timer in 1:53. A former mile track season’s leader by virtue of his 1:52.3 win at Gaitway (with his own last three-quarters in 1:21.3), the son of Captaintreacherous-Lisjune will be driven by the sport’s all-time winningest driver, Dave Palone, making a rare Pocono appearance, with the pair starting from post four.

Just outside De Los Cielos Deo will be his Burke barnmate, No Mas Amor, a Sweet Lou colt out of No More Loving. No Mas Amor went wire-to-wire at The Meadowlands in 1:52.2, last quarter :26.4, which was tied by Stag Party three days later and Captain Ahab three days after that. Trainer Burke has engaged Anthony Napolitano to sit behind No Mas Amor from post five, Pocono’s winningest spot.

The other four PA All-Stars winners are back at Pocono on Saturday: Lyons Johnnyjnr, who will start just outside of De Los Cielos Deo and No Mas Amor; Blood Money (race one, post four); Lyons Night Hawk (race three, post five); and Proof (race four, post three).

There is also a double stakes winner in this Sire Stakes collection, as Aflame Hanover (race three, post three) comes to Pocono with two PA Fair Sire Stakes wins, the latter at York this past Saturday in 1:58.3, faster than anyone has traveled on the Keystone twice-arounds this season at press time.

On Sunday, six divisions of this group’s Stallion Series horses will contest their first preliminary leg action.