Pocono: Kissin In The Sand not to be denied in Lynch Memorial final

Kissin In The Sand started from post nine and was parked throughout the race, but she overcame all the negatives with a wonderful and gritty performance that left her the winner of Saturday night's $300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial for sophomore pacing fillies at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The final time of the race was 1:49 3/5.

Youaremycandygirl (Yannick Gingras) easily made the lead in the race from post two, and she clicked off a speedy quarter in 26 seconds flat. Kissin In The Sand (Scott Zeron) rolled up on her outside past that marker, but she would get the cold shoulder from the pace-setter to the 53 2/5 half and the 1:20 3/5 three-quarters.

A key development occurred on the far turn, though, as Sansovina Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) couldn't keep the pocket closed, allowing Kissin In The Sand to drop down to the rail for a tuck late on the bend. That may have ulimately made the difference as when Zeron fed Kissin In The Sand racetrack to the outside in the lane, she came with another surge, nailing Youaremycandygirl by a neck on the wire. Alexa's Power (Tim Tetrick) sat in and wound up third, with Sansovina Hanover fourth and Hypnotic Tale (Brian Sears) up for fifth.

"Nobody wants sit parked the whole way off big fractions, but I felt like I was going against the other best horse in the race, and it just became a battle between the two of us," remarked Zeron. "I had a decision in the first turn. I thought maybe I might have been able to get in, but I just felt like I was really going to have to wrestle her to do it, and Yannick could have stolen the race at that point. I made the decision to go to the front. I know Yannick's horse is really aggressive, and I got hung out to dry. When I ducked her back in in the last turn, she picked the bit back up, which surprised me. When I angled her over down the lane, she really was game."

Nancy Johansson trains Kissin In The Sand, a filly by Somebeachsomewhere, for owners Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables. This was Kissin In The Sand's tenth win from 19 career starts, and she has now pocketed $495,545. She was sent off at 4-1 and returned $10.20 to win.

"I can’t believe she did that. I thought this was going to be the Three Diamonds all over again," Johansson said. "I had a good feeling about tonight. She’s a good horse but things never seem to go her way. She’s been very confident this year and Scott gets along with her so well."