Pocono: Dazzling debut by Mon Cheval in Pennsylvania All-Stars

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono featured two $35,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for 2-year-old trotting fillies on its Sunday twilight card, and a most noteworthy career debut was made by Mon Cheval, who came home in a back-half of 57 seconds and a final quarter of 28 seconds to stop the timer in 1:54 3/5.

At 1-9, Mon Cheval was expected to do well for several reasons: she had won two consecutive baby races before her debut, one in 1:54 2/5 at the Meadowlands, and she has among the most royal of pedigrees, Father Patrick-Shake It Cerry, a pairing which earned over $5 million, a Trotter of the Year award, and four seasonal divisional honors, not to mention their post-racetrack careers. Dexter Dunn drove her as if she were the best, and she certainly was for trainer Nancy Takter (the defending Driver and Trainer of the Year combining) and the noted Solveig's Racing Partners.

Dunn also won the other All-Stars division, but the victory with the 10-1 Cantab Hall-Dixieland Delite miss Dixiechick Hanover was not as predictable. This section had all three winners from the first leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in it, but all three fell victim to losing gait, one of them the favored Mimi Ocean Hanover while on the lead while on the far turn. Dunn had Dixiechick Hanover moving well uncovered, and they got around the trouble and to a lead she maintained to the wire while breaking her maiden in 1:56 2/5. Lucas Wallin trains the winner for Vestmarka AB and Triple Play Trotters LLC.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--