Pocono: McCarthy brothers bag PA All Stars events

Brothers Andrew and Todd McCarthy guided JK First Lady and Marloe Hanover to victories in the two $35,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars splits for sophomore pacing fillies that occurred on Saturday afternoon's card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

JK First Lady worked her way around Rocknificient (Scott Zeron) for the lead after the 27 second opening quarter and continued to show the way to a 55 2/5 half and a 1:23 2/5 three-quarters. It was pretty much a match race between those two fillies through the stretch, and although Rocknficient had every chance to go by in the passing lane, JK First Lady held on determinedly to win by a neck in 1:50 2/5. Alexis's Beach (Simon Allard) finished third.

Nancy Takter trains JK First Lady, a daughter of Western Ideal, for owner/breeder 3 Brothers Stables. This was her seventh win from 17 career tries, and she has now earned $479,506. She was the second choice and paid $4.80 to win.

As for Andrew's younger brother Todd, he just started driving in the United States this week, but he can already say he has a stakes win now as Marloe Hanover was victorious in 1:51 1/5 in the other flight. Todd, who represented Australia in last year's World Driving Championship, pointed Marloe Hanover to the top beyond the 27 2/5 quarter and maintained command to a 55 1/5 half. The tempo quickened sharply from there as Marloe Hanover blitzed a 26 4/5 panel to get to three-quarters in 1:22, and then held sway over pocket-sitter Dance Club (Joe Bongiorno) and a two-wide Going Gone Hanover (A. McCarthy) to prevail by a neck.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous, Marloe Hanover is trained by Nifty Norman for owners Pinske Stables, David Hoese, and Bridgette Jablonsky. She now has a record of 6-6-4 from 22 lifetime efforts, and she pushed her bankroll to $363,759. She was the 3-1 third choice and returned $9.80 to win.