Wilkes-Barre, PA – Precocious 2-year-old pacing males were on display in four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event on Monday afternoon (July 10) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and the four winners all emerged as still unbeaten in purse contests.

Lyons Benjamin won in 1:53.1, the fastest of the PA All-Stars action at Pocono Monday. Curtis Salonick photo.

The only non-favorite to win, the Captaintreacherous – Square Dancer colt Lyons Benjamin, was hardly a longshot at 7-5, and didn’t look like one as he did cut the pace and then come home in :55.1 – :26.4 to defeat favored Booming Economy by a neck in 1:53.1. The Jim King Jr. trainee, driven by Tim Tetrick, is owned by Threelyonsracing, and he also stepped home in :55.1 – :26.4 to win his purse bow in 1:55.4 at Philly.

Captaintreacherous earned another siring credit when Ivy Park (dam All Blue) won his purse debut in 1:53.4 after surmounting a first-over grind. Yannick Gingras drove the winning colt for trainer Nancy Takter and the ownership of Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco, and Nancy Takter & JAF Racing.

The timer again froze at 1:53.4 when Gingras crossed the wire first with another making his purse bow, the Heston Blue Chip – Morenci colt Hugh Heston, who moved to the lead early and won handily for trainer Per Engblom and Morrison Racing Stables.

Another 1:53.4 mile was put in by Rose Run Zeke, a Stay Hungry – Rose Run Ultimate gelding who came to town off two purse wins, including a 1:52.1 victory at The Meadows in his previous race. Here pacesetter War Machine got away to a 1:27 three-quarters, with Rose Run Zeke moving into the far turn to challenge, and “Zeke” just got the better of his game rival by a nose, coming his own last quarter in :26.3 for driver Hunter Myers and trainer/owner Mitchell York.

Anthony Napolitano won the Late Double to top the day’s drivers with three victories.

The All-Stars races continue Tuesday (July 11) at 1 p.m. with action for the 2-year-old trotting filly ranks. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.