Pocono: Billy Flynn, Yankee Bounty remains undefeated

Billy Flynn and Yankee Bounty came into their $260,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship races at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs with perfect records in six starts and both rolled a seven. The races for colts and geldings were two of four finals for 2-year-olds on the Saturday card.

In the male trot division, Walter White left quickly to the front and forced Piercewave Hanover into the pocket as the gate opened. After the quarter in 27 3/5, Hurrikane Jonny K rushed from third and assumed command. He would lead the field past the half in 57 seconds as Piercewave Hanover got in gear on the rim and towed Billy Flynn into the action.

Hurrikane Jonny K and Piercewave Hanover battled to three quarters in 1:26 1/5 when Billy Flynn was sent wide by driver Brett Miller and began gobbling up ground. The son of Cantab Hall easily pulled clear in the stretch and scored a 1:55 2/5 victory over Honor And Serve and Ralph R.

Staffan Lind trains Billy Flynn ($3.40) for Bender Sweden Inc. The colt has now earned $272,857 in his career.

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Things didn’t go quite as easily for Yankee Bounty on the pacing side. He settled in third early as Dragon Eddy and Tomy Terror took turns on the lead past the quarter in 26 seconds. Driver Yannick Gingras then brushed Yankee Bounty to the front and assumed control at the half in 55 1/5.

There were no breathers for Yankee Bounty. Lost For Words made a strong bid for the lead down the backstretch as the pace quickened to the tune of a 27 1/5 third quarter. When Lost For Words began to pack it in, that hurt the outer flow and left the race to Yankee Bounty and Tomy Terror along the cones.

The pair went tooth and nail down the lane. Tomy Terror at one point appeared to have wrestled away the front, but Yankee Bounty was resilient and refused to lose in the 1:50 3/5 track record mile for freshman geldings.

"He's a tough horse," said Gingras of Yankee Bounty.

Curtis Salonick Yankee Bounty and Tomy Terror at the wire.

Yankee Bounty ($2.80) bumped his earnings to $294,977 with the victory. Ron Burke trains for Yankee Bounty Partnership and Frank Chick.

From the word “go” in the Filly Pacing Championship it was apparent that trainer Ron Burke was holding all the cards. His trio took command quickly at the opening quarter in 27 seconds and eventually lined up with the heavily favored Southwind Roulette leading the charge.

Gingras would rate a comfortable half of 56 2/5 with Southwind Roulette showing the way over Kays Dragon Lady as Aria Hanover made a brief uncovered bid. Following three quarters in 1:24 3/5, Southwind Roulette opened up on the field and was a safe winner over stablemates Kays Dragon Lady and Well Hello There in 1:52 3/5.

The victory for Southwind Roulette ($2.80) was her fifth in six career starts for owners Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor.

The parade of winners for driver Yannick Gingras continued with Wild Honey in the Filly Trotting Championship. She easily bested her foes in 1:54 2/5 to sweep her five PA Sire Stakes races.

Wild Honey made the front before the quarter in 28 1/5 but gave way to stablemate Speak To Me just before the second turn. Those two would cruise past the half and three quarters in 56 4/5 and 1:25 1/5 before Gingras pulled Wild Honey to the rim on the final turn.

Wild Honey ($3.80) opened up easily in the stretch and coasted to victory over closers Jersey Strong and Smexi. The Jimmy Takter trainee is owned by Christina Takter, Jim Fielding, Herb Liverman and Jerry Fielding.

Gingras also won both $50,000 Open races with Sunfire Blue Chip and Wishing Stone.