Grand Circuit Action Packs Pocono Card

Grand Circuit Week at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs wrapped up with 12 Pennsylvania All Stars races on a steamy Saturday night.

The three-year-olds took center stage, with four $30,000 divisions of colts and geldings on the pace, three $35,000 divisions of pacing fillies, and five $30,000 divisions of trotting colts and geldings.

THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLTS AND GELDINGS

Brewmaster (Glidemaster-Dance Girl Dance), the 8-5 favourite with Dave Palone in the bike for trainer Marcus Marashian, hung on to win by a neck over Maxamillus in the first division in a career-best 1:54.2. Rossini picked up the show. The gate-to-wire victory was the second straight for Brewmaster, with his last coming on a sloppy track at The Meadows.

Aperfectyankee (Yankee Glide-Asixpackfromperfect) glided up first-over and won going away by three lengths in a career-best 1:53.1 in the second division. Broadway Prince finished second while pacesetter Major Athens faded to third. 8-5 favourite Tigresss Legacy went off-stride early. Trained and driven by Jim Oscarsson, Aperfectyankee, the third choice at 7-2, bounced back from a break in his last race for his second win of the season.

A blistering early pace set it up for Bluto (Donato Hanover-Blur) to come from off the pace and rally for a tight victory by a head over 7-5 favourite Smoother Ride in a career-best 1:52.4. Jimmy Takter trains and drives Bluto, who went off as the 7-2 third choice and won for the second time this year in six tries. Classicality picked up the show.

The fourth division produced a performance that matched a Pocono track record and a world record for three-year-old trotting geldings. Its Complicated (SJs Caviar-Madame Volo), the 5-1 third choice, was a powerhouse on the front end for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Kris Hite, winning by one and a quarter lengths over even-money favourite High Bridge. Cantab Abs was third. The winning time by Its Complicated of 1:52.4 matches the Pocono mark and the world record on a five-eighth-mile oval by sophomore geldings, which was set by Im The Answer in 2011.

All Laid Out (Yankee Glide-Adelaide Hall), who was fresh off a big upset win in the Earl Beal Jr. consolation trot in his last start, followed it up with a romping win in All Stars action as the 6-5 favourite in the fifth division. With Dave Palone in the bike for trainer Noel Daley, the colt sat off a hot pace and pounced late to win going away by five and three-quarter lengths in 1:53. Sailer Eddie finished second and Boffin picked up the show.

THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLIES

In the first division, Dave Palone gunned Power Pack Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere-Panned Out), the 5-2 second choice from the Tom Cancelliere barn, to the front end and the filly went all the way for a two and a half length victory in a career-best 1:50.2. Handsoffmycupcake was best of the rest in second while Offintothesunset grabbed the show. It was the first win in two tries this year for Power Pack Hanover and just her third lifetime in five career races.

A stretch duel between the top two choices was the highlight of the second split, with 9-5 second choice Icommandmyspirit (Dragon Again-Artists Flower) holiding off 7-5 favourite Carols Desire by a neck in a career-best 1:51.1. Champagne Tonight was third. Jim Morrill Jr. did the driving aboard Icommandmyspirit for trainer Ross Croghan, as the filly won for the fifth time in her last six races.

Once she took over on the front stretch, 1-9 favourite Somwherovrarainbow (Somebeachsomewhere-Rainbow Blue) fought off all comers in the third division and won by one and a half lengths in 1:51, a new career mark. Sweet Lady Jane finished second while South Pacific grabbed third. Driven by Montrell Teague and trained by George Teague Jr., Somwherovrarainbow now has three wins this season, with the other two coming in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action.

THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING COLTS AND GELDINGS

In the first division of this group, 2-1 second choice Net Ten Eom (Somebeachsomewhere-Glowing Report) set bruising fractions after taking over the lead on the front stretch, but held tough late to win by two lengths in 1:49.2, a new career-best. Big Time Promise came up short in second, just his second loss in nine races this season, while The Pan Poobah finished third. George Napolitano Jr. drove Net Ten Eom for trainer Richard Silverman, as the colt picked up his third consecutive win, all at different tracks.

Some Kinda Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Arts Fantasy) didn’t disappoint as the 1-5 favourite in the second division, leading much of the way and powering home the second half of the mile after a great rate job by driver Marcus Miller in the first half. The colt from the Erv Miller barn ended up winning by one and a quarter lengths in a career-best 1:51 for his sixth win in 10 races this season. Here Comes Swifty finished second while Shock It To Em picked up the show.

Good Day Mate (Christian Cullen-Stienams Place) parlayed an excellent trip behind a speed duel to a late-kicking victory in the third division, as he rallied to win by a neck over 6-5 favourite Dedis Dragon in 1:49.3. Varadero Hanover came on for the show. Jim Morrill Jr. drove Good Day Mate for trainer Chris Oakes, as the three-year-old colt picked up his second win of the season as the 9-5 second choice.

In the final division, Ultimate Beach Boy (Somebeachsomewhere-Ultimate Bet), the 8-5 second choice, powered home from the pocket to win by a length in 1:50.4. George Napolitano Jr. was in the bike for trainer Don Swick, as Ultimate Beach Boy won for the third time this season. Johns Polyview finished second while 4-5 favourite Fateful Choice faded late to third.

(Pocono Downs)

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