Pocono: Hititoutofthepark impresses, public choices break stride in Pennsylvania All-Stars

Hititoutofthepark, a winner in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and on the Grand Circuit last year, was the fastest of three winners in Saturday afternoon's Pennsylvania All-Stars events for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Tyson and Mikkeli Hanover won the other two $30,000 divisions, and the heavy public choice broke stride in all three splits.

With Corey Callahan at the controls, Hititoutofthepark clicked off a 28 2/5 opening quarter and a 58 2/5 half. 3-5 favorite Make Or Miss (Joe Bongiorno) moved up out of fifth past the half and was only a head behind Hititoutofthepark at the 1:26 3/5 three-quarters, but then he broke shortly past that point, leaving Hititoutofthepark clear turning for home.

Lagerfeld (Yannick Gingras), last year's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, tracked Hititoutofthepark from the pocket and dropped into the passing lane at the top of the lane, but Hititoutofthepark was game and held safe by a head in 1:55. Cloud Nine Hanover (Charlie Norris) collected third.

John Butenschoen trains Hititoutofthepark, a 3-year-old ridgling by Yankee Glide, for owners Give It A Shot Stable, Kurt Welling, and VIP Internet Stable LLC. of Florida, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Hititoutofthepark, who was making his 2016 debut off three qualifiers, won for the sixth time in his career, and he has now earned $143,820. He paid $30.60 as a 14-1 shot.

Callahan also drove the winner in the opener, that being Tyson. With 2-5 public choice Love Matters (Brett Miller) out of the picture with a break at the start, Tyson landed in second at the 28 opening quarter and then moved around Hollywood Highway (George Napolitano Jr.) to control before the 58 1/5 half.

A 1:27 1/5 three-quarters followed, and then Tyson kicked home in 28 3/5 to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:55 4/5. Edinburgh (Yannick Gingras) was the runner-up and Will Self (Ray Schnittker) grabbed third.

It was a maiden-breaking triumph for Tyson, a Donato Hanover gelding trained by Trond Smedshammer for owners Purple Haze Stables LLC., Marc Goldberg, American Viking Racing Stable, and Anderson Farms of New York, New Jersey, and Ontario. Tyson, who returned $11.60, has banked $27,797.

In the middle PA All-Stars dash, Mikkeli Hanover (Gingras) took the group to the 28 1/5 opening quarter, then yielded to Meadowbranch Memo (Napolitano Jr.) before the 58 half. Mikkeli Hanover regained the front before the 1:26 3/5 three-quarters, but even-money choice Massive Clout (John Campbell) was hot on his heels. Massive Clout couldn't navigate the final turn, though, rolling into a break.

Massive Clout's mistake left Mikkeli Hanover with an open-length lead turning for home, and although he was under urging throughout the drive, he got home on top by a length in 1:56 3/5. Granite State (Brett Miller) was up for second, and Marion Gondolier (Marcus Miller) got third.

Mikkeli Hanover is an Andover Hall colt trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Crawford Farms LLC., and The Panhellenic Stable Corp. of Pennsylvania and New York. Mikkeli Hanover posted his second lifetime win, and he has now banked $29,144. Sent off at 7-1, he paid $16.80.