from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Five divisions of the second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for 3-year-old colt trotters went gateward Sunday night (May 27) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and the current parity in the group was reflected by the fact that three divisions went in 1:55 and the other two in 1:55.1.

Two of the 1:55 winners were altered sons of Explosive Matter, and that pair also became the only members of the group to win in both Stallion Series prelims.

Curtis Salonick photo

Lindy’s Big Bang was a 1:55 winner for driver David Miller.

The first to earn this distinction was Lindy’s Big Bang, who made every pole a winning one while coming home in :28.1 to take a new speed badge for trainer Nifty Norman and driver David Miller, the latter co-owner with Melvin Hartman and David McDuffee.

With all the great stakes racing in Pennsylvania on Sunday between Harrah’s and Pocono, the other double Stallion Series winner, Rich And Miserable, was the only visitor to either Victory Lane to come from behind cover and go on to win. Driver Tyler Buter tipped the winner wide from second-over headstretch and handled him confidently through the lane in lowering his mark for trainer Todd Buter and owners Gene Oldford Farms, Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs.

Sire Cantab Hall also saw two of his sons trot to victory in the Stallion Series action. First up was For A Dreamer, who gained command in front of the stands and went on to be the other 1:55 winner, a time which equaled his mark taken in a qualifier. Corey Callahan handled the sulky assignment for trainer Bob Stewart and the partnership of Bluestone Farms, S. Steven Arak, Brianna Fenn, and Norman Corn.

Cantab Hall is also the sire of the gelding Mississippi Storm, who went coast-to-coast in taking his division in 1:55.1, only a tick off his career fastest. Mississippi Storm tacked on a :28 kicker for driver Jim Morrill Jr. to raise his stats to wins in half of his dozen lifetime starts for trainer Tom Fanning and owner Joseph Smith.

The other 1:55.1 winner was the Muscle Hill gelding Spartan, who made an early move to control the throttle and went on to post his second straight victory and lowered his mark. Andrew McCarthy was in the sulky for trainer Anette Lorentzon, who co-owns the sophomore with ACL Stuteri AB.