Wilkes-Barre, PA — On an unprecedented Saturday (July 11) for Standardbred speed in northeast Pennsylvania, Dandy Ideal equaled the world record for a 4-year-old pacing gelding on a five-eighths-mile track by way of a 1:47.2 win in the $27,500 top fast-class pace at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Always At My Place first set the standard for this group in 2015; Allywag Hanover equaled that clocking in 2021. This record stays “all in the Pocono family,” as all three iterations of the record time have taken place at the mountain oval, which continues its long-held reputation as one of the sport’s top racing surfaces.
It was not an easy victory for Dandy Ideal, though, as Ruthless Hanover went right after the fast-leaving Dandy Ideal after starting just to his outside and made the top at the :25.4 quarter. Ruthless Hanover rolled right along and posted middle splits of :53 and 1:20, with Dandy Ideal snug on him and no one else really looming. Come the Pocono Pike, driver Jason Bartlett took Dandy Ideal to the inside, and the winner of $1,126,257 gradually wore down the stubborn pacesetter, the final margin being a hard-fought half length for the American Ideal gelding, whom Hunter Oakes trains for Susan Oakes and Alan Johnston.
The $21,000 second-level fast class feature saw the ultra-game Always B Miki gelding Congressional win for the third time in five starts, pacing his own back half from the pocket in :53.3 to go by Smooth Dream by a head in 1:49.2. Smooth Dream quarter moved after a :26 first stanza, rated the half in :55.3 and got to the three-quarters in 1:22.3, but Congressional stayed tight and burst through up the Pocono Pike to prevail for owner/trainer/driver Kevin Wallis. The sophomore Another C Note, undefeated in eight seasonal starts but to the races only once in seven weeks, finished out of the money.
The third-line fast-class pace, for $18,500, carried an optional $40,000 claiming price — just right for the Art Official gelding Art Of Revenge, who was coming off four wins in six starts against the track’s top claimers. He handled the class jump easily, chasing fractions of :26.1 and :54.3 then moving uncovered before the 1:21.4 three-quarters and drawing clear late to lower his mark to 1:48.4. Tyler Buter was in the sulky for trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner Carmen Iannacone.
Imagine a pacer equaling the fastest mile of the day, the 1:47.2 world-record-tying clocking of Dandy Ideal, and the win not even coming in the three top paces! Such was the case for the 4-year-old Papi Rob Hanover stallion Sugar Man, who sat third behind fractions of :25.4, :53,3, and 1:21 before pouncing to overhaul the leader quickly and finish out powerfully to just miss the 10-year-old divisional track and world record of Freaky Feet Pete by a single tick. Brett Beckwith had the lines for the pacer, who took a new mark for trainer Enrico Robinson and Pollack Racing LLC while winning his $17,500 contest.
Also worth a note via velocity is Santafe’s Coach, who won a Hempt elimination at Pocono nine years ago, and at age 12 reduced his career best to 1:49.4; and the day’s quickest trotter, Night Phantom, 6-3-3-0 during his recent hot streak which includes this 1:51.4 victory, a new mark.
The list of multiple-win drivers and trainers was headed by Jason Bartlett, who piloted three winners; doublers included drivers Simon Allard, Braxten Boyd and Matt Kakaley, along with trainers Hunter Oakes and Darren Taneyhill.
Pennsylvania All-Stars action will headline the Sunday (July 12) 5 p.m. twilight card at The Downs, with three $30,000 divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies on the bill of fare. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.