Pocono: Check Six remains undefeated this season after Pennsylvania Sire Stakes win

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono was the scene of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers on Sunday night, and Check Six improved his 2016 record to four-for-four and gave trainer Ron Burke his second Pennsylvania Sire Stakes win of the night in the process. In the other divisions, Fernando Hanover upset Burke stablemate and favored Big Top Hanover, and Lyons Snyder turned in a stout 1:49 4/5 win over the sloppy track.

Check Six (Yannick Gingras), who won the $561,500 Pennsylvania Classic at Pocono last time out, was the leader at the 28 second opening quarter in the final $54,787 split, but he yielded to the challenge of fellow Burke pupil Manhattan Beach (Matt Kakaley) before they reached the finish line for the first time.

Manhattan Beach went on to hit the half in 56 3/5, and the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, but Check Six was back to his outside on the final turn. Check Six surged into the lead halfway down the lane and opened up a 1 1/2 length gap on his foes at the wire in a 1:52 3/5 mile. Arthur Pendragon (Mike Wilder) was up for second, ahead of Manhattan Beach.

Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., William Switala, and Clarence Martin of Pennsylvania and New York own Check Six, a Somebeachsomewhere colt. He has now won eight times in his career, and he has earned $443,332. He paid $2.40 as the 1-5 favorite.

Back in the first $54,787 section, it was Another Daily Copy (Jim Morrill Jr.) on the point through stations of 26 3/5, 55 2/5, and 1:23, but Burke's Fernando Hanover (Kakaley) rallied in the lane after a three-hole trip and was up to prevail by a head in 1:51 2/5. Big Top Hanover (Gingras) had the two-hole trip but wound up second after being overtaken, and Another Daily Copy held third.

Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. own Fernando Hanover along with Frank Baldachino of New Jersey and JJK Stables LLC. of Florida. Fernando Hanover, a Dragon Again gelding, posted his fifth lifetime win, and he has now banked $113,078. Sent off at 11-1, Fernando Hanover returned $24.60.

The fastest split was the second $54,787 event, which saw Lyons Synder (Scott Zeron) move to the point past the 27 second opening quarter. He would go on to reach the half in 55 2/5, and the three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 with Adrian Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.) in the pocket.

In the stretch Adrian Hanover came through in the passing lane and was clearly ahead of Lyons Synder, but in the final strides Lyons Snyder fought back and nosed out Adrian Hanover at the finish line. Settlemoir (Anthony Napolitano) took third.

Mark Silva trains Lyons Synder, a Well Said colt, for owners Jeff Snyder and Geoffrey Lyons Mound of New York and Ontario. Lyons Snyder has now made three appearances in the winner's circle, and he has earned $74,668. He paid $7.60 to win.