Pocono: Blood Money quickest in Pennsylvania All-Stars clashes

The Pennsylvania All-Stars series began its annual run at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night, with three $30,000 divisions of sophomore pacing males in the spotlight.

The first All-Stars division was taken by the heralded and well-bred Sweet Lou colt Blood Money, but only by a nose in 1:50. It was an interesting strategic “chess match” between Scott Zeron, guiding Blood Money, and George Napolitano Jr. behind Escapetothebeach: Zeron gradually guided Blood Money to the lead past a 26 4/5 opener, only for Napolitano to brush in front of the stands with his first-time 2019 starter to have the lead before the 55-second half. Zeron didn’t want to be caught in with his 1-5 shot, so he regained command before the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters, only to have Escapetothebeach hang right behind him, take the Pocono Pike, and only get beaten by the slightest of margins. Brassy Hanover, ducking inside fading cover on the far turn, rallied up the far inside and missed by only three-quarters of a length in third.

Blood Money had won his seasonal debut at the Meadowlands in 1:50; this mile was the fastest of the year by a sophomore on a five-eighths-mile track, and tied Blood Money with himself as the fastest “glamour division” colt on any size track. Nancy Johansson trains the winner of $372,244 for Diamond Creek Racing.

Branquinho, winless at two but a full brother to Huntsville, looks like he may flourish in his sophomore campaign – he’s now undefeated in three 2019 starts, following up on a Stallion Series win last week with an All-Stars victory in 1:50 1/5, his fastest ever. The Somebeachsomewhere colt bypassed an enormous hole mid-first turn and went on to the lead near the 27 2/5 quarter, but favored Lyons Night Hawk also chose to press forward and grabbed the top halfway to the next station, which was reached in 54 4/5.

The chalk had repelled outside competition by the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters, but Branquinho (the 9-5 second choice) would be his major challenger in the lane, and the winner responded sharply when tipped out from the two-hole by Tyler Buter, winning by three-quarters of a length for owner/trainer Ray Schnittker.

Somebeachsomewhere picked up a second sire credit when Air Force Hanover, parked a good way for the lead and not getting a breather up front, was still able to draw clear in the lane to take a new mark of 1:50 1/5.

Air Force Hanover and George Napolitano Jr. (who drove five horses to Victory Lane on the card) were still outside past the 26 3/5 quarter, then ranged up to the lead in the frontstretch towards the 55 2/5 midway clocking. Aflame Hanover, the 2018 PA Fair champion, forced the winner to go an all-out 26 3/5 third quarter to keep the lead, and after the challenger started to fade past the 1:22 three-quarters, “George Nap” kept the winner’s mind to business as he posted a 2 3/4 length victory over fast-closing Highlandbeachlover, who was hampered by a nonflowing outer tier. Brian Brown is the conditioner of the four-time career winner for Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo, and W. J. Donovan.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--