Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Pennsylvania All-Stars races for state-sired two-year-olds will be raced at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania during the first half of July, with the first the event for trotting males on July 4th, this coming Saturday. Several classes of two-year-old prep races, for $16,000, were written for the Sunday (July 5) twilight card at the mountain oval, and among the baby colts to race in Saturday’s debut stake, the 1-2 finishers on Sunday (June 28) – Yankee Boss and Celebrity Hunter – may be worth keeping an eye on.
Åke Svanstedt put the favored winner right on the lead – often a good place in a race for green trotters, and especially so in this incident-marred contest. Driver-trainer Svanstedt and the Captain Corey colt just went about their business and were untroubled in notching a 1:57.4 score for Kiwi Stables LLC and Graham Grace Stables LLC. We also mention Celebrity Hunter, who was in the pocket early when he miscued, dropped so far back that he wasn’t in the television picture until the top of the stretch, and was officially charted in :56 for his back half in getting second after an inquiry – watch him if on his behavior.
In no big surprise, Team Svanstedt also won the filly trot with the Walner – Jula Emmylou Me miss Emotica, as the crowd choice controlled the tempo then sprinted home in :58.1 – :28.4 to complete a 1:58 maiden victory. Åke Svanstedt Inc. co-owns the promising baby with Santandrea Inc. and Little E LLC.
Pacing fillies were also gathered, with the Captain Crunch – Ideal Lifestyle A distaff Crunchstyle being pushed wide before the half then left uncovered shortly thereafter, yet still able to go her last half in :55.3 for a 1:53.4 maiden win. The rugged filly was driven by Ridge Warren for trainer Juan Cano, whose Cano Racing Stable LLC shares ownership with Ernie Davis LLC.
In the featured overnight pace, a $15,500 contest for the track’s top claimers, Statesidelckdwn GB blasted away from the pole and kept control throughout, coming his back half in :54.2 to lower his mark to 1:50.2. Anthony Napolitano guided the altered son of Tom Hill for trainer Lou Pena and Todd’s Auto.
No one at Pocono had more than two victories on Sunday. Sulkyside the two-baggers were earned by Tyler Buter, Anthony Napolitano, and Svanstedt; Svanstedt also trained his two winners, a feat also achieved in conditioning by Cameron Capone and Pena.
Featured on Pocono’s Monday (June 29) card at 1 p.m. will be a $17,500 pace for top-level distaffs, along with a $16,500 trot for horses seeking advancement up the class ladder. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.