Pocono: Champions crowned in PA Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-olds

Sierra Girl, Geocentric, T C I and Captain Albano were victorious in the four $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships for 2-year-olds that went behind the starting gate on Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

After getting off to a slow start following a bobble behind the gate, Sierra Girl (Ake Svanstedt) was seventh and eight lengths behind stablemate and leader Slip Sliding Away (Dexter Dunn) at the 56 4/5 half-mile marker in the Championship for filly trotters. Sierra Girl made a first-over move into contention going to the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, though, continued to loom on the rim around the final bend and into the lane, then got by Slip Sliding Away in the shadow of the wire to prevail by a nose in 1:55 4/5. The Moment (Tim Tetrick) collected third.

Bred by Sam Stoltzfus, Sierra Girl is a daughter of Bar Hopping that Svanstedt also co-owns with co-owners Young Guns and Joe Sbrocco & Jaf Racing. A $60,000 buy at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, Sierra Girl has a record of 4-1-0 from five tries, has pocketed $211,273 and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

The Championship for filly pacers was billed as a showdown between undefeated Geocentric (Tetrick) and Lyons Legend (Matt Kakaley), and the former led the latter through fractions of 27, 54 4/5 and 1:22 4/5, with My Girl EJ (Chris Page) stepping out first-over from third going to three-quarters. In the stretch Geocentric was confronted on the outside by My Girl EJ and in the passing lane by Lyons Legend, but she wouldn't waver and held off a game My Girl EJ by a neck in 1:50 4/5. Lyons Legend faded late and had to settle for third.

"It was a pretty tough race; there was three really good horses," winning trainer Brian Brown said. "Timmy thought maybe he got to the half a little bit quick. She was all out at the end, but she dug in and fought all the way to the wire. She raced tough and did the best she could do to win."

Geocentric had won her previous four races by a minimum of 2 3/4 lengths.

"I'd rather win by open lengths, but she raced two really good horses," Brown said. "They both had a shot at her coming down the stretch and she held them off."

Brown trains the Diamond Creek Farm-bred for owners Milt Leeman, Alan Keith, Jim Stambaugh and Joe Sbrocco. Purchased for $55,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, she has earned $294,501 to go with her undefeated status and returned $2.60 to win.

"(What I like best) is mainly how easy she does things, how willing she is," Brown said. "You can do anything with her. She's very professional for as young as she is. She's been that way all along. She's never had a bad day, whether it's jogging, training, racing; everything has just been easy for her."

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Fresh off his win in the William Wellwood Memorial at Woodbine Mohawk Park last Saturday, T C I (David Miller) took the Championship for colt and gelding trotters. T C I floated out from post five and was two-wide until about the three-eighths-mile mark, where he was able to wrestle the top spot away from Security Protected (Tetrick). Once he was in command, T C I clicked off the half in 58 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:27 before he closed in 27 4/5 to defeat Security Protected by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 4/5. Greenspan (Dave Palone) got up for third.

A Cantab Hall colt bred by Concord Stud Farm, T C I is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Sold for $150,000 at the 2022 Standardbred Horse Sale, T C I has seven wins and a second from eight appearances, has banked $467,470 and paid $2.60 to win.

In a repeat of when they met in the sire stakes for colt and gelding pacers on Sunday at Harrah's Philadelphia, Rose Run Zeke (Yannick Gingras) put up panels of 26 4/5, 54 4/5 and 1:21 4/5, followed by Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) in the pocket. In the stretch, just as occurred six days ago, Captain Albano went by Rose Run Zeke, then pulled clear to tally by two lengths in 1:50 2/5. Rose Run Zeke held on to get second from Booming Economy (Tetrick), who only offered a mild first-over bid out of third past three-quarters as the race's favorite.

Captain Albano, a Captaintreacherous colt bred by Fred Hertrich III, was sent out by Noel Daley for owners Patricia Stable, L A Express & Sjoblom Inc. and Michael Dolan. A $150,000 Standardbred Horse Sale acquisition, Captain Albano made his fourth appearance in the winner's circle in his fifth try, has put away $196,180 and returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

There were also four $50,000 consolation races that were won by trotting filly Prospect Park (by Father Patrick and bred by Hertrich) in 1:56 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Charlie Norris and owner Dr. Ron Nooteboom; pacing filly Sea Shanty Hanover (by Captaintreacherous and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms) in 1:54 1/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.; trotting gelding Executive Game (bred by owner Runthetable Stables) in 1:56 2/5 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim Campbell, and pacing colt Hugh Heston (by Heston Blue Chip and bred by Best Bet Stables LLC.) in 1:52 3/5 for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Per Engblom and owner Morrison Racing Stables.

--quotes courtesy of Ken Weingartner--