Pocono: Goes Down Smooth dominates in Pennsylvania All-Stars

Three divisions of 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings took to a “sloppy” track at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday evening to contest $30,000 sections of a Pennsylvania All-Stars contest.

Goes Down Smooth, winner of the Walner final and a Pennsylvania Sire Stake before being plagued by some bad luck in June, returned to top form in an impressive way, winning his All-Stars division in a lifetime best 1:53 1/5 in the off going. Matt Kakaley moved the Muscle Hill gelding to the lead past the 28 3/5 quarter, reached the half in 56 4/5, opened up a big lead to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, then coasted home 6 3/4 lengths ahead of Faithfulandtrue. Goes Down Smooth has now own half of his ten seasonal starts for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Lindy’s Crazy Hall won his third straight race in taking his All-Stars contest in 1:54 4/5 in the sloppy conditions. Driver Drew Monti, who recently moved his base to Plainridge and has made an important connection there with Lindy Farms and trainer Domenico Cecere, sent the son of Cantab Hall right to the top, going 28 2/2 and 58 to the first two markers, then buzzing him home in successive 28 2/5 panels to hold off late-closing Mass Fortune K by three-quarters of a length, with favored Explosivebreakway, a full brother to Phaetosive, another length back in third.

The Explosive Matter gelding Chiplosive had notched his latest victory with the guidance of George Napolitano Jr., so trainer Trond Smedshammer tapped Pocono’s leading driver to handle the sophomore in the third All-Stars cut, and the reunited pair brought off a 1:56 victory under the off conditions. Chiplosive was sent to the front well before the 28 second opening quarter, then benefited from some confusion directly behind him approaching the finish line for the first time and took advantage by putting up mild middle fractions of 57 2/5 and 1:26 3/5. The winner, now victorious in half of eight starts this year, stayed safely in front to the wire, though tiring in the mire, with Final Claim closing to within three-quarters of a length at the finish, a neck ahead of Consus Victory. Purple Haze Stables LLC. owns the winner.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--