WILKES-BARRE PA – The John Simpson Sr. Memorial Stakes kicked off Monday with a four-card race at Pocono Downs in Mohegan Pennsylvania, with the eight stakes classes divided into two events each day and each named after a champion associated with the Hall Of Famer.
Unfortunately, the young horses competing for two $45,900 divisions of the Bret Hanover for freshman colts and three $30,000 divisions of the Elma for sophomore trotting fillies were greeted by cool weather and a sloppy track, eliminating any chances for a fast mile.
Still, three favorites and a second choice won in the Simpson action (the bomber of the day will be detailed at the end of this story).
In the Bret Hanover’s first division, the Stay hungry – Tempest Blue Chip gelding Thai Hanover was made the favorite after running 1:20.4 in a recent stakes in Lexington, missing by just a length in a 1:48.4 mile. Thai Hanover justified the public’s confidence by taking the lead in the blink of an eye and maintaining control of the proceedings down to the wire, winning by 1¼ lengths in 1:55.2 from Easy Breeze for driver Jeremy Indof and trainer Mitchell York, co-owned by Erin York.
THAI HANOVER REPEAT
Pocono’s leading driver Tyler Buter kept his cool behind the Captain treacherous – Sweet Lucy Lou colt Treacherous Lou, and the baby came in to win the other Bret Hanover division in 1:57.3. The treacherous Lou, the second choice, was in the pocket behind favorite Superchamp Hanover on the far bend when he made a nasty break, pushing “Lou” into the infield and the rest of the field wide. Buter literally got the horse back on course, albeit fourth at headstretch, but the winner had enough recovery kick to beat 60-1 outsider Whiskey Venom by a length for trainer Robert Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc.
TRAITORY LOU REPLAY
The fastest winner in the three divisions of the Elma was the Southwind Frank Miss Hangover, who started strongly and forced creases, assessed the middle half and then scored clear for an easy success of 1:57.1 as the punters’ choice. Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt also co-owns the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner with Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing Stable, Little E LLC and Rivers Stable.
HANGOVER REPETITION
The International Moni Filly Country Victory set the pace as favorite in her division, opening up a good margin around the far bend, then tiring a bit, but had taken enough of a lead to keep regular grinder Truly Authentic half a length behind her at the wire in 1:58. Country Victory, winner of the Keystone Classic division and runner-up in the Jugette, was piloted by Jason Bartlett for trainer Melvin Schmucker and Yacht Club 140 LLC.
LAND VICTORY REPEAT
My Debt Collecter, a champion from New York with earnings of $738,518, got the odds-on pick in her cut despite the outside post six, and with many leaving inside, she had to go back early to hold out. The Muscle Hill Filly Jersey Slide, with names like Take All Comers and Next Level Stuff in her direct pedigree, was pointed forward from the start by driver Jordan Stratton, and although it took her three-eighths to get clear, she never relinquished the lead with a strong front-end effort. My Debt Collector, 6 3/4 lengths back at three-quarters behind the runaway, closed steadily but fell three-quarters of a length short in a 1:57.3 race. The well-known combination of trainer Jim Campbell and Runthetable Stables are the connections of Jersey Slide.
JERSEY SLIDE REPEAT REPEAT
French rider Alexis Collette, winner of 500 races on the ‘other side’ of the Atlantic, including almost a third of them to saddle (monte), made his American debut in a night race and led the longest shot on the board, Mrstery Deal. But Collette followed in second behind the favorite Choco Charlie, then cut through a narrow gap in ‘Charlie’ and was swept to a neck victory – a memorable local bow for Collette. And then he showed a dazzle more associated with Americans – he wore a transparent raincoat over his colors and managed to take it off while still grumpily returning to the winners circle, perhaps all the better to show the ‘JOCKIZ’ sponsor logo (for a French armor game) on his colors!
Tyler Buter had four winners that afternoon; In addition to his deft tackle of Treacherous Lou in the pyre, he swept powerfully down the back lane three times to gain a lead that no one could overcome. Åke Svanstedt had the only training double; In addition to his win with Hangover, he also won with Warrior, which handed Super Chapter a defeat at Lexington two starts ago.
As noted, the Simpson Stakes continues on Tuesday’s card at 1 p.m., and then on the following Saturday and Monday at 1 p.m. Tuesday’s races will feature three $30,000 divisions of the Super Bowl for two-year-old trotting colts and a similar turnout for the Hardie Hanover three-year-old pacing filly event. The Tuesday program will also feature a double carryover to the final race High 5 betting which was due to be decided on Monday, but scratches took the bet “off the board.” Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.pha.org.
For full race results, click here: American trotting results.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs
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