from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — After the heaviest kind of favorite — the $2.10 to win variety — took each of the first two $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars event for 3-year-old pacing fillies at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on a chalk-laden Monday night (June 4), the third winner, racing in the tenth, paid more to win ($48.60) than the previous nine visitors to Victory Lane had returned combined.

Curtis Salonick photo

Destiny Hanover took a new mark of 1:52.2 in capturing her PA All-Stars event.

The upset was posted by the Somebeachsomewhere filly Destiny Hanover, who took a new mark in 1:52.2 in a race during which she had some help, but showed she knew what to do with good fortune.

Simon Allard had her sitting third-inside as favored Serene Stride ranged up along pacesetting Pass Line Bluechip early on the far turn, then sent her scurrying up the pegs as the leader broke and went to the infield, allowing pocket-sitting Aldine Hanover to dash through and grab the lead, with the winner on her bumper.

In the stretch Allard took his charge to the Pocono Pike and got a nose advantage over Aldine Hanover late in tallying for trainer Jake Leamon and the ownership of David Van Dusen, Michael Cimaglio, and Stephen Demeter.

The first of the heavy stakes chalk to make the Pocono winner’s enclosure was the A Rocknroll Dance filly Sidewalk Dancer, who won her second straight race with a 1:51.3 clocking. Brett Miller had the winner on the lead before the quarter despite the outermost starting slot six, and she paced home in :55.2 to be 1-1/2 lengths clear on the money for trainer Chris Oakes and the partnership of Northfork Racing Stable, Omar Beiler, and Dennis Coons.

Alexa’s Power, the Lismore final winner, had a bit of a harder time from her outside starting assignment, but she defeated her six rivals in 1:53. Driver Tim Tetrick was content to tuck the Somebeachsomewhere miss in fifth early, then went second-over and three-wide nearing headstretch, with a determined charge into a :55.3 last half getting her a half-length decision over Aims Whisper for trainer Jim Campbell and owners Jeffrey and Michael Snyder.