The Meadows: Captang, Dream Shaq tally in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

Captang and Dream Shaq posted victories in a pair of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contests for 2-year-old male trotters on Saturday afternoon at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

In the first $55,845 flight 4-5 favorite Celebrity Hunter (Dave Palone) led through fractions of 27 4/5, 57 1/5 and 1:26, but Brian Zendt wheeled Captang to the outside from the pocket in the stretch, and he went by the pace-setter en route to a two length victory in 1:54 3/5 at odds of 23-1. Red Storm Hanover (Yannick Gingras) got up for second as Celebrity Hunter faded to third.

George Ducharme trains Captang, a Hanover Shoe Farms-bred Captain Corey colt, for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC. Captang, a $70,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, broke his maiden in his second chance, has earned $31,522 and paid $48.40 to win.

The second $56,245 split saw Mr Green Hanover (Anthony MacDonald) on top at the 28 1/5 quarter, but both Yankee Boss (Gingras) and Dream Shaq (Dexter Dunn) came to the outside in the second quarter, and it would be Dream Shaq who took control past the 57 4/5 half.

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Race favorite Jimdougie Armitage (Ake Svanstedt), who was shuffled back to fourth after getting away in the pocket initially, attacked first-over against Dream Shaq going to the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters, but that was as far as he could advance as Dream Shaq closed it out in 28 2/5 to defeat Jimdougie Armitage by half a length in 1:55 15. Mr Green Hanover wound up third.

Dream Shaq, a Father Patrick colt bred by Morrison Racing Stables, was sent out by Marcus Melander for owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables. Dream Shaq, who was bought for $85,000 in Lexington, has won both of his outings, has pocketed $43,122 and returned $5 to win as the 3-2 second choice.

There were also four $20,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series divisions on the program that were won by:

--Hook N Reel (by Captain Corey and bred by Concord Stud Farm, paid $3.60 to win) in 1:58 for driver Yannick Gingras, co-owner/trainer Ake Svanstedt and co-owners Brochart Stable Inc. and S R F Stable;

--Keystone Augusta (by Captain Corey and bred by Max Hempt, paid $5.60 to win) in 1:59 for driver Brian Zendt, trainer William Daugherty Jr. and owner Susan Daugherty;

--Sa's Tiki Bar (by Bar Hopping and bred by Marvin And Lynn Katz and Sam Goldband, paid $29.80 to win) in 1:57 3/5 for driver Shawn Johnston, co-owner/trainer Gary Johnston and co-owner Darren Zielinski;

--Heir Tothe Naughty (by Captain Corey and bred by owner Denise Dennis, paid $5 to win) in 1:58 3/5 for driver Justin Irvine and trainer Justin Lloyd.