Pocono: Ginger Tree Lex, Islandgirl Hanover rule in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

The Bar Hopping filly Ginger Tree Lex marked herself as a freshman trotter to watch for in upcoming major races by remaining undefeated five career races, all stakes and three of them Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, after setting a lifetime- best 1:54 3/4 in a division of her third preliminary Sire Stakes round on Sunday night at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, during $217,154 of PA-sired stakes competition.

Matt Kakaley was out wide after getting away from post six and two-wide most of the 27 2/5 quarter, but then he and the filly got a 57 2/5 breather to the half. The three-quarters came and went in 1:26 1/5, and through the last panel the (slight) favorite just increased her margin over her opposition without looking hard-pressed.

Steve Cook is the trainer of Ginger Tree Lex, who is owned by the partnership of Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC., Knollview Stable 2, and Bob Reber Jr.

The other Sire Stakes division was also won by the chalk, the Captain Corey miss Islandgirl Hanover, who also used engine tactics to record a 1:55 4/5 win. After a 28 second opening quarter, trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer got to steal a 59 4/5 middle-half, and then his filly could not be caught while flashing home in 28 seconds. Islandgirl Hanover has won three of five lifetime trips behind the gate for Purple Haze Stables LLC.

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There were two major contrasts between the Sire Stakes and the five divisions of the Stallion Series racing Sunday at Pocono: while favorites took both of the top-level races, only one chalk won in the five StS races; and no StS horse has more than one win after three rounds, though 15 different horses now have a single victory. (The final prelims at The Meadows on August 28 should be exciting.)

One "repeat winner" was sire Greenshoe, who fathered three of Sunday's five winners, including the fastest, who was also the longest shot of her race at 21-1: the maiden-no-more Rina Labelle (dam Absynthe Hanover), who moved smartly out of the pocket to win in 1:56 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr., trainer Vernon Beachy (of Allegiant fame), and 518 Group, Ryan Smith, and Gitup Racing.

The other two credits for Greenshoe were Nuance (dam Hillarmbro), who took a new mark of 1:56 1/5 for Team Melander, and Berry Good News (dam Poof She's Gone), who broke her maiden in 1:56 3/5. The latter is a Nifty Norman trainee who was driven by Tyler Buter, Pocono's leading driver for the meet and for the day with three. Buter also brought home A J Hall (Cantab Hall-Aela Jamieson), trained by Noel Daley, to her first win in 1:58 1/5 as the only PaSS favorite to win.

And finally, 79-years-young Roger Hammer is the breeder-owner-trainer of the Fordham Road-A Little Laid Back miss Little Road, who broke her maiden in 1:56 3/5, with driver Brady Brown doing a good Hammer imitation while getting through a tiny hole on the inside to be up on the money.

After starting of the week with a sensational Sun Stakes Saturday card that generated a handle of over $1 million and excellent 2-year-old racing on Sunday, Pocono continues its racing week with Monday and Tuesday programs beginning at 1 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--