Pocono: Post eight no problem for Shartin, Call Me Queen Be in Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace elims
Shartin had a rough go in her last appearance at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finishing eighth in the added-distance Great Northeast Open Series final on September 2, but she had no such problems in her Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace elimination, scoring in 1:52. Call Me Queen Be posted an 18-1 upset in the other elimination.
Driven by Tim Tetrick, Shartin was starting from the outside post eight and parked into the stretch the first time to get the lead away from Twinkle (Scott Zeron). After she got the lead, Shartin went on to the half in 56 and the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, turning away a first-up try from Caviart Ally (Andrew McCarthy) at the latter marker and around the final bend.
In the stretch Shartin had another contender to deal with as Twinkle came up the passing lane from the pocket, but Shartin held her at bay, winning by a length. Caviart Ally was third and Blue Moon Stride (Corey Callahan) came in fourth.
A 5-year-old daughter of Tintin In America, Shartin is trained by Jim King Jr. for owners Richard Poillucci and Jo Ann Looney-King. Shartin, who now has lifetime earnings of $909,478, is now 17-for-22 in the win column in her initial North American campaign and has 24 career victories. The 6-5 second choice, she paid $4.40 to win.
Back in the first elimination, Call Me Queen Be (Eric Carlson) also had no issues with the outside post eight, winning in 1:50 3/5.
Call Me Queen Be, the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace champion two years ago, shot right to the front, put up fractions of 26 2/5, 55 3/5, and 1:23 1/5, and poured it on through the lane to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Pure Country (Yannick Gingras) was second after following dull cover of Agent Q (David Miller) from second-over, and Newborn Sassy (Tetrick), Shartin's stablemate, was third. Carol's Z Tam (Brian Sears) made the final with a fourth-place finish, and Lakeisha Hall (Matt Kakaley), who was fifth, had higher 2018 earnings than Nike Franco from the second elimination, so Lakeisha Hall also advanced.
Ross Croghan trains Call Me Queen Be, a 5-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare, for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Dana Parham. Call Me Queen Be made her 21st appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now banked $1,359,335. She returned $38.00 for the upset win.
Here is how the mares will line up behind the gate for next Saturday night's final:
1-Twinkle
2-Shartin
3-Call Me Queen Be
4-Lakeisha Hall
5-Pure Country
6-Carol's Z Tam
7-Newborn Sassy
8-Blue Moon Stride
9-Caviart Ally
AE1-Nike Franco
AE2-Tequila Monday