by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

Amesbury, Solomon Blue Chip, Uncle Vernon, ENS Crescendo and Durgin Hanover were the five divisional winners of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings Saturday night (June 26) at The Downs at Pocono.

Amesbury, driven by Steve Smith and trained by Karen Garland, opened the2004 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes season at the Northeastern Pennsylvania track with a clocking of 1:57.4.

Keystone Americius, driven by Todd Schadel, was second in the opening division with third going to Stonetag, driven by Bryce Truitt.

This was the third win in eight starts for Amesbury, owned by E. Mazzoni, Jr., J. Bauslaugh, R. DiCenzo and Night Rogue Racing Stable.

Trond Smedshammer drove Solomon Blue Chip to a wire-to-wire win in the second division, stopping the timer in 1:57.3. This was the first start of the year for Solomon Blue Chip, trained by Smedshammer and owned by Einari Kalle Vidgren of Lisalmi, Finland.

Second in this division was Johnny Peanuts, driven by Carlo Poliseno, with Coyote Creek, reined by Smith, third.

Uncle Vernon, trained and driven by John Baggitt, Jr., also scored a wire-to-wire win in the third division. Time of this mile was 1:58.3.

Matthew Bailey, Jackson, N.J., and Karen Baggitt, Freehold, N.J., own Uncle Vernon, now a winner of three of six starts this season.

Polar Winner, piloted by W. Bill Zendt, was second to Uncle Vernon. Third in the race was Keystone Torch with Herve Filion in the bike.

The parade of race favorites winning in the sire stake events Saturday night continued as ENS Crescendo, trained and driven by Smedshammer, was a victor in 1:57.3. This was the maiden win for the three-year-old Tagliabue colt owned by American Viking Racing Stable, N.J., and Theodore Gewertz, New York.

Shaggy, driven by Bill Fahy, was second in the fourth division with American Jackpot (Charlie Norris) third.

Durgin Hanover, trained and reined by Rodney Bolon, won the final division with the fastest time of the night, 1:55.1. The three-year-old Lindy Lane ridgeling is owned by James Snyder, Ohio, and Rodney and Sally Bolon, Pa.

American Mike, driven by Norris, was second in the final division with third going to Dream Photo Kosmos, reined by Zendt.

Durgin Hanover won for the first time in six starts this season.