Wilkes-Barre, PA – I Did It Myway ran his career record to five-for-five – at five different racetracks – and notched his third straight Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory as the two-year-old pacing colts came to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono during a Sunday (Aug. 15) twilight card for their third preliminary round of action.

I Did It Myway wins in PASS action at Pocono Sunday night. Salonick photo.

A Captaintreacherous – Flyme To The Moon colt, I Did It Myway had won previously at The Meadowlands, The Meadows, Harrah’s Philly, and The Red Mile, but this test proved his toughest as he won by a nose in 1:52.1. Todd McCarthy got the winner to the lead, around Wearinmysixshooter, past a :27.1 opening split, then put up fractions of :56, and 1:24.1. On the far turn he looked like he had gone clear, but he bore a bit wide (a phenomenon often manifested by first-time starters at Pocono, especially two-year-olds, possibly because that’s where the paddock is located), but I Did It Myway regathered himself and held off the tough two-holer, with railshooting Treacherous Tom only a head away from taking it all.

I Did It Myway now has earnings of $128,658 for trainer Tony Alagna and the ownership of Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Don Latare, and Alagna And Fodera Racing.

While I Did It Myway has shown himself capable to handle any oval so far, the royally-bred Sweet Lou – Economy Terror colt Market Based has been victorious at only one track – Pocono (he suffered interference at The Meadows and then went off-stride at Philly in his other two Sire Stakes starts). But all systems were “go” on this occasion, as Dexter Dunn let early traffic settle in a :27.4 first quarter, got to the half without incident in :56.4, then saw his charge throw a :28 third panel and then a :27 kicker to win by 2¼ lengths over JM’s Final Treasure in a lifetime best of 1:51.4. Nancy Takter is in charge of the fast baby for Chuck Pompey, Ed Gold, and H&M Taylor Stable.

There were also three divisions of Stallion Series action, with the Captaintreacherous – Odds On Lassomyhrt colt Captain Cowboy remaining undefeated in three starts, all in StS competition, after blitzing home from third in :54.4 to post a 1:53.4 triumph, 1¼ lengths ahead of 76-1 shot Twist Knot, for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Åke Svanstedt, and the partnership of Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Little E Inc.

Market Based wins for Dexter Dunn and Nancy Takter. Salonick photo. 

Another son of Captaintreacherous, Hammering Hank (dam History Repeats), is undefeated in three career outings, two in Stallion Series races, after taking a new mark of 1:52.2, also coming his own last half in :54.4, to run down a tough pacesetter in Layton Hanover by a neck. The gelding was driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Brett Pelling and the partnership of 3 Brothers Stables, Pelling Racing LLC , and Rojan Stables.

In the other Stallion Series split, the Always B Miki – One For The Beach gelding My Miki Beach came down from Canada and promptly broke his maiden in 1:53.3 by a length over P J Lou. Yannick Gingras was the driver for trainer Amanda Fine, who shares ownership in the winner with Highland Thoroughbred Farm.

Amateur driver Maria De Bruijn scored her first North American sulky triumph in last week’s American Harness Drivers Club event, and she liked it so much that she came back and won again with the same horse, Silvermass Volo, on Sunday in 1:58 for trainer Michael Heijnen and lessee Mr. Racing Inc.

Sire Stakes / Stallion Series action continues at Pocono on Monday’s 12:30 card, with two-year-old trotting fillies; the tenth race Sire Stakes division features four winners from the action of the first two rounds – Baptism, Vogue, Dreamonhigh, and Mimi Ocean Hanover. Program pages are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.

Another big event at Pocono tomorrow will be the draw for this coming Saturday (Aug. 21) afternoon’s $2M+ Sun Stakes Saturday super card, expected to bring together top three-year-olds and Invitational horses.