Pocono: Dayson, Bar Hopping with late heroics in Beal eliminations

Stretch drama was the order of the day in the pair of $25,000 Earl Beal Memorial eliminations for 3-year-old male trotters at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Dayson made up four lengths in the last sixteenth to win the first elimination, while Bar Hopping gave Southwind Frank only the second loss of his career in the other one.

Brooklyn Hill (Dave Miller) swept from fourth to first past the 27 1/5 opening quarter in his elimination, and after a half in 55 4/5 and a three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, he opened up a gap on his rivals as they turned for home.

In the stretch, Dayson (Jim Morrill Jr.), who had been second-over and was still fourth lengths behind at the stretch call, began to devour Brooklyn Hill's lead with every stride. The only question was if the wire would come up in time to save Brooklyn Hill, but the answer was no as Dayson got up by a nose in a 1:52 3/5 mile. Truemass Volo (Eric Goodell) and Reigning Moni finished third and fourth, and Hollywood Highway (John Campbell) wound up as the faster of the fifth-place finishers to move on to the final.

Ron Burke trains Dayson, a gelding by Conway Hall, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Our Horse Cents Stables, J&T Silva Stables LLC., and Rossie Smith. Dayson has 11 victories from 14 tries, and he has earned $249,002. Dayson was the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.80.

In the other elimination, Bar Hopping (Tim Tetrick) was up by a nostril at the 26 3/5 opening quarter, but he yielded to Promise Delivered (Andrew McCarthy), who then gave way to Southwind Frank (Gingras) before the 55 4/5 half.

Southwind Frank would go on to trip three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, but Bar Hopping had begun a first-over advance at that point. Southwind Frank kept Bar Hopping at bay around the final bend, but in the lane Bar Hopping wore Southwind Frank down, and Bar Hopping would go on to win by a neck in 1:52 1/5. Trolley (Marcus Miller) and Dice Man (Ake Svanstedt) were the other horses to advance to the final from this elimination.

Bar Hopping, a Muscle Hill colt, is trained by Jimmy Takter for owners Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld. Bar Hopping got his second win from 14 tries, and he has banked $145,714. Bar Hopping was sent off at 11-1 and paid $24.60.