by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

It was a long flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Recklinghausen, Germany for Ernst Gerbaulet. But it was well worth the trip because he was on hand Saturday night (Sept. 3) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs to see Amour Ami win the $100,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Trained and driven by Per Henriksen, Amour Ami got a second-over trip behind Green Dot (David Palone) and stopped the timer in 1:57.1.

“I figured the horse to beat was Green Dot,” said Henriksen. “I really thought I would be third over but I was second after the opening quarter with Wait Until Dark (Todd Schadel) leading the eight-horse field with the timer reading 28.3.

Yannick Gingras and Lonestar Kosmos led at the half in 59.4 with Green Dot and Amour Ami grinding it out on the outside. Palone ducked into the two hole near the three-quarter pole but Amour Ami kept on going, grabbing the lead with the three-quarters reading 1:28.2.

“My horse can race a long way on the outside,” noted Henriksen. “He’s got a lot of speed and can really grind it out. I’m happy for Mr. Gerbaulet. He was so happy in the winner’s circle.”

Second was Lonestar Kosmos with Racino (Mike Simons) third.
Palone was the story of the evening, winning three of the four championship races. He drove Coulantine to a two and one-half length victory in the $100,000 race for three-year-old filly trotters.

Coulantine, winning for the fourth time in 11 starts for trainer Doug Miller, crossed the finish line in 1:57. D. Kistler, Pa., D. Miller and D. French, both of Florida, and S. Kallas of New York, own Coulantine.

Second in this race was Traci Spur (Richard Stillings) with Hawaiian Lei (Dean Zaimes) third.
In the $100,000 final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, it was all P-Forty-Seven, driven by Palone and trained by Kelly O’Donnell. P-Forty-Seven stopped the timer in 1:52.1 with Look Ma No Pans (George Napolitano, Jr.) second and Great Again (Joe Pavia, Jr.) third.

P-Forty-Seven won by three and three-quarter lengths, and is owned by O’Donnell, Mark Maynard and C. Ed Mullinax, all of Ohio.

The biggest winner of the night in the four $100,000 races was Up Front Dragonfly, driven by Palone and trained by William Elliott. Up Front Dragonfly won by seven lengths and was timed in 1:52.1.

Gerrie S. Tucker of Montreal, Canada, owns Up Front Dragonfly. Second in this race was Sub Rosa Hanover (W. Mike Wilder) with Jamie’s Character (Gingras) third.