Pocono: Done Well, Wes Delight, Kwik Talkin prevail in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

Two-year-old colt pacers battled in three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits on Monday night at a soggy and sloppy The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and it would be Done Well, Wes Delight, and Kwik Talkin going home with the victories.

In the opening $51,855 tilt This Is The Plan (David Miller) carved out stations of 27 4/5, 58, and 1:26, but he gave way to a first-over Done Well (Tim Tetrick) in the lane, and Done Well would go on to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:53 4/5. This Is The Plan regained second late when Venier Hanover (David Brickell) broke stride and dropped back into third.

Done Well is a Well Said colt owned by James Stambaugh, Wingfield Brothers, Milt Leeman, and Alan Keith. Done Well, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and sold for $45,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, is now a perfect four-for-four in his career to go with earnings of $93,782. He is the second foal out of the Allamerican Native mare Dagnabit Hanover ($304,821), a full sister to Dallenbach Hanover ($646,334) and a half-sister to Darena Hanover (Yankee Cruiser, $665,207) and Delaware Hanover (Dragon Again, $325,277). The 1-9 favorite, he paid $2.20 to win.

The next $52,225 group saw saw Hayden Hanover (Andy Miller) in the lead at the 28 2/5 opening quarter, but he would be overtaken by both Wes Delight (Yannick Gingras) and Wild Bill (Scott Zeron) before the 56 2/5 half. Wild Bill continued to show the way at the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters and around the final bend, but at the top of the lane a first-over Nutcracker Sweet (Tim Tetrick) was going by, and Wes Delight was right there in the pocket just waiting for the passing lane. Once that lane was available, Gingras guided his charge into it, and after battling with Nutcracker Sweet to the line, it was Wes Delight winning by a neck in 1:53 3/5. Hayden Hanover would take third.

Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns Wes Delight, a colt by Bettor's Delight, with partners Rick Phillips and Deena Rachel Frost. Wes Delight has won in half of his four attempts, and he has now put away $34,112. Wes Delight was bred by Winbak Farm and was a $55,000 acquisition at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He is out of the Western Hanover mare Maid West, making him a half-brother to Western Expression (Artsplace, $236,305 and a three-quarter brother to Little Michael B (Cam's Card Shark, $226,932). Sent off as the 9-2 fourth choice, he returned $11.40 to win.

The final flight went also went for $52,225 and Karpathian Kid (Marcus Miller) set up shop on the top from post two, leading through fractions 27 3/5, 57 1/5, and 1:26 1/5, with Sheppard champion Kwik Talkin (Scott Zeron) moving first-over out of fourth before the half. Karpathian Kid managed to hold off Kwik Talkin through the last turn and into the stretch, but Kwik Talkin proved the better horse on this night in the late going, getting up to score by a length in 1:53 4/5. Pro Beach (Gingras) finished third after a pocket trip.

Kwik Talkin, who has won five times and finished second once in six starts, giving him a bankroll of $110,480, is a son of Well Said trained by Rob Harmon for owners Robert Robinson, Jacqueline Dinelle, Scott Henry, and Lisa Henry. Kwik Talkin, who was taken out of the Standardbred Horse Sale for $18,000, is the third foal out of the Cam's Card Shark mare Kwik Dial, a half-sister to the likes of Dial Or Nodial ($1,745,040). The 3-1 second favorite, Kwik Talkin paid $8.20 to win.