Pocono: Cuatro De Julio charges to Sebastian K Invitational title

Cuatro De Julio bounced back after making a break in the John Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day to win Saturday's $100,000 Sebastian K Invitational for older trotters at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:51.

Driver Andy McCarthy landed in third with Cuatro De Julio but brought him to the outside before the 27 1/5 opening quarter and took over the top spot after that marker. Cuatro De Julio maintained command through middle-half panels of 55 3/5 and 1:23 2/5 and got home in 27 3/5 to win by two lengths over early leader Hillexotic (Yannick Gingras). Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn), the favorite in the race, wound up second-over on dull cover from Southwind Tyrion (Ake Svanstedt) in the last three-eighths of the mile and had to settle for third.

"He was terrific today. I was a little worried there I might have had him a little too far away from the gate going into it. I had him too close last time, so he's a little tricky, but he went a big trip today," said McCarthy. "It's good going 51 today."

It was reported by post-race interviewer Heather Wilder that Cuatro De Julio is another horse who has been both breeding and racing, and McCarthy acknowledge that was the case.

"Yeah apparently. He seems to like it, maybe that's why he's got a little bit of an attitude toward me as well, if you know what I mean," McCarthy remarked. "He's a terrific horse, he's got a great big set of lungs, and he goes a long way."

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McCarthy also had kind words to say about Cuatro De Julio's trainer and co-owner Marie Ortolan-Bar.

"Marie's the best. She makes me laugh a lot, and she's very, very passionate about this horse. She loves him to death, so I'm very pleased to finally do some good for them," stated McCarthy.

A 4-year-old son of Trixton, Cuatro De Julio is co-owned by D Farm LLC. This was his 14th lifetime win, he has now pocketed $749,541, and he paid $7.40 to win as the 5-2 second choice.