Pocono: In Range heads Melander double in Pennsylvania All Stars

In Range was one of two winners from the Marcus Melander barn and turned in the fastest clocking (1:55 1/5) in a trio of $30,000 Pennsylvania All Stars contests for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Driven by Tim Tetrick in the first flight, In Range yielded to sit in the pocket behind stablemate Incentive (Brian Sears) past the 28 1/5 opening quarter. Incentive would go on to reach the half in 57 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 and turned for home first, but In Range came up the passing lane in the stretch, surged by Incentive, and went on to win by a length and three-quarters. Speed Away (Andrew McCarthy) was third from first-over.

From the first crop of Bar Hopping, In Range is owned by AMG Stable Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren, Tomas Asell, and Rick Wahlstedt. In Range was making his pari-mutuel debut after finishing second to Incentive in a baby race at the Meadowlands on June 27. In Range, who is out of the Windsong's Legacy mare Ilia (1:56, $46,020), was bred by Windsong Stable and was a $185,000 buy at the Standardbred Horse Sale. In Range is a half-brother to Tight Lines (Yankee Glide, 1:51 2/5, $595,516) and a three-quarter brother to Long Tom (Muscle Hill, 1:52 1/5, $410,513). In Range paid $5.40 to win as the wagering favorite.

Melander teamed up with brother Mattias to win the final grouping with Bidensky in 1:55 3/5. Bidensky went right to the top from post six and led the way through panels of 29, 58 2/5, and 1:27, with Tart Tongue (Joe Bongiorno) picking up pocket position after three-quarters when Glacier Hanover (Tetrick) made a break in that spot. Tart Tongue had good momentum after moving up and pulled to the outside late on the far turn, but Bidensky was in-hand and appeared to have a lot left in the lane, winning by a measured length and a quarter. Bacardi (Marcus Miller) came on to get third.

A Father Patrick colt, Bidensky is owned by Brixton Medical Inc. Bidensky, who was bred by Tony Holmes and Walter Zent and went for $200,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, was seventh and second in two baby races at the Meadowlands. Bidensky is out of the Yankee Paco mare Southern Senorita (1:58 2/5, $181,615), making him a half-brother to the likes of Guccio (Yankee Glide, 1:51 1/5, $1,021,809) and Lagerfeld (1:53 2/5, $792,580). Bidensky returned $4.20 to win as the public choice.

The other Pennsylvania All Stars winner during the card was Southern Mazzarati (McCarthy), who prevailed by a length and a half in 1:58 2/5 after leading the way through stations of 29 3/5, 1:00, and 1:29 3/5. Arnold N Dicky (Tyler Buter) closed well for second, and Scirocco Big John (Corey Callahan) came in third from a two-hole journey.

Trainer Lucas Wallin also co-owns Southern Mazzarati, a colt from the initial crop of Southwind Frank, with partners Mazza Racing Stables LLC. and Stormi And Bruiser Stable. Southern Mazzarati, whose dam is the Conway Hall mare Alix Hall (1L55 2/5, $150,099), brought $25,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Southern Mazzarati came in third and fourth in two qualifiers at the Meadowlands and paid $24.80 as an 11-1 offering. Southern Mazzarati, bred by Stephen Zehr and Black Creek Farm, is a half-brother to Flex The Muscle (Muscles Yankee, 1:52 4/5, $937,460).