by James Beviglia, for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Saorse, a 3-year-old Andover Hall-Armbro Gaelic trotting filly, established a new track mark at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Tuesday afternoon (July 22) with Dave Palone in the sulky. The victory came in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for sophomore trotting fillies.

The 1-5 favorite, Saorse stopped the timer in 1:54.3 in the $41,453 final division of five at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack. Saorse, trained by Henrik Hollsten, won for the first time in seven 2008 starts but had been facing stiff competition at the Meadowlands and Mohawk, amassing $93,737 in earnings prior to Tuesday’s Sire Stakes start.

Palone also was in the bike when Classic Lane, a Lindy Lane-Heartland Classic filly, equaled the previous track mark with a time of 1:54.4 in her $41,453 split earlier on the card. Classic Lane, trained by Peter Foley, won for the fifth time in nine starts in 2008.

Lantern Kronos and Swoosh Hanover also had produced 1:54.4 miles during the month of July at Pocono.

Prior to winning with Saorse and Classic Lane, Palone drove Hawaiianphotograph to a victory in the Sire Stakes. Hawaiianphotograph was winning for the fifth time in eight starts in 2008 for trainer William Zendt. This S J’s Photo-Hawaiian Rose filly went wire-to-wire from the six post.

Swoosh Hanover, a Lindy Lane-Swift Kathy filly trained by Richard Johnson and driven by Tim Tetrick, was another division victor with a time of 1:55.2. This was the fourth straight win for Swoosh Hanover.

Jacqueline Ingrassia drove 16-1 longshot Zitomira to a win in the first of the five Sire Stakes divisions. This Donerail-Pinestruction filly, trained by Frank Ingrassia, survived an early break to win in 1:55.4. Carolling, Along The Way and Tag Dancers Filly, favorites in the race, all went on early breaks and never recovered.