Pocono: Railroad Station fastest in Monday's PA All-Stars

Railroad Station moved to the engine before the half and was in full control of one of four $30,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars divisions for 2-year-old pacing males Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, steaming home to a spectacular clocking of 1:51 1/5 and five lengths ahead of the field.

Railroad Station actually had a brief advantage from the rail soon after the gate sprang, but David Miller took the Sweet Lou-Rodeo Rosie colt in-hand to let outside contenders Paxamillion and Joe The Bartender battle for the early lead. The two slugged it out well past the 26 1/5 opening fraction, and as Joe The Bartender finally claimed the top under the wire the first time, Railroad Station was already on the move to retake, getting the lead quickly and going to the half in 54 1/5.

Paxamilllion came out for another move before the 1:23 three-quarters, but on the far turn the winner achieved separation from his rivals and widened his advantage in the lane, winning over Joe The Bartender with Miller motionless behind him. Railroad Station had paced his last quarter in 26 seconds to miss a nose in a Kindergarten division in his only other purse start, and he certainly looks like the real deal for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Hatfield Stables, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.

Miller, Burke, Sweet Lou, and Burke / Weaver Bruscemi accounted for another All-Stars win with the colt Da Lou Ron Ron (dam Sassa Hanover), who is also owned by Larry Karr and Frank Baldachino. In his purse bow, Da Lou Ron Ron got a crafty steer from Miller, sitting mid-pack behind early numbers of 27 and 56 1/5, moving uncovered down to back, then getting a brief respite by tucking third ahead of a gapper past a 1:25 three-quarters, then coming up the Pocono Pike and catching pace-setter Waterfront by a half-length in 1:53.

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The other two All-Stars winners both paced in 1:52 1/5 for new marks. Bitcoin Hanover, a son of Stay Hungry-Boldnbrash Hanover, continued a recent Pocono success story by shippers from Rideau Carleton Raceway (this one via Toronto). The colt knocked four seconds off his mark, overcoming the outside post eight to put up fractions of 27 2/5, 57 2/5 and 1:25 en route to a neck win over potential pocket rocket and favorite Inflation Proof. Tyler Buter had the drive behind the winner of three of four, with Rob Harmon the trainer for Robert Robinson and Paul Smyth.

Rideau Carleton is 345 miles away from Wilkes-Barre, but Gratz, Pennsylvania, is only 75 miles distant, and the Papi Rob Hanover-Dagnabit Hanover gelding Dreamboat Hanover again showed he didn't mind the trip, following up on a 1:52 2/5 overnight debut win with his All-Stars victory on Monday. Andy Miller guided the baby to the lead past a 27 4/5 opener, put up middle splits of 56 3/5 and 1:25, then dug in against a pocket threat from 31-1 shot Lennon Hanover for a three-quarter length decision for trainer Cody Schadel. Cody's father and mother Todd and Christine co-own the fast freshman with Timothy Hayes and Dr. Megan Moschgat.

The 2-year-old pacers were certainly speedy on the 90 degree day, but the trots on the card certainly took no back seat. There were five diagonally-gaited miles in 1:55 or less, and none of them came from a level above third-from-bottom on the respective class ladders.

The hot temperatures and clear skies are supposed to hold Tuesday, which makes likely some more quick clockings from four $30,000 divisions of All-Stars competition from 2-year-old trotting fillies.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--