Wilkes-Barre, PA – Driver Dexter Dunn worked out a pocket trip with Brandon Blvd behind Al Papi, angled to the inside in the stretch to find open space, and rushed home from there to post a 1-1/2-length win over Melillo in 1:48.2 in the $300,000 Grade 2 Max C. Hempt Memorial, for 3-year-old pacers, at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Al Papi finished third.
Melillo, Brandon Blvd and Al Papi all left the gate quickly at the start, with Melillo being first to the front, but Dunn continued forward with Brandon Blvd to be a parked-out leader in a :27 opening quarter. Al Papi and driver Yannick Gingras immediately made their move to the top, leaving Brandon Blvd second and Melillo third on the way to the :54.3 half, with Gentleman’s Club charging on the outside first-over.
Gentleman’s Club continued to press Al Papi through three-quarters in 1:21.3 but was turned away heading into the stretch. Once in the stretch, Dunn took the inside route to overtake Al Papi and then rebuffed a late rally from Melillo, who was sixth at three-quarters, to get his fourth win in his last five starts.
“I sort of thought there would be more leavers there, but we had (post 2) and we were able to use it,” Dunn said. “But then I was happy to follow Yannick … and once I got down to the inside, (Brandon Blvd) did it pretty easy, actually. He raced great.”
“(Dunn) was worried about the Burke duo, so he tried to be the first one to the front,” said winning trainer Andrew Harris, referring to the Ron Burke-trained Melillo and Al Papi. “When Yannick came around him, it was a perfect trip. Yannick’s horse was so tough to get us all the way where we needed to get to. Everybody else was coming at the end, so it was just a great race.
“He’s a great horse and when you put him in the right spot, he’s going to show up. Dex does a great job with him. That was a masterful drive today.”
Brandon Blvd, who finished third in his previous start in the Cane Pace on Aug. 8, has won six of nine races this year and earned $895,695 for the Punisher 11 Stable ownership group. The son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith has hit the board in 18 of 19 career races, winning 13 and earning $1.28 million. He was bred by Crawford Farms.
“It’s one of those things where you’re always so worried about the next race that you don’t get to enjoy it until it’s done,” Harris said. “Right now, it’s great, though. It’s great to have a horse like this, he’s an amazing animal. I’m thrilled with the horse and it’s just a great ride.”
Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Brandon Blvd paid $6.20 to win.