Pocono: Scuola Hanover surprises Come See The Show in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

What looked like a formful round of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes tests for 2-year-old pacing fillies after public choices Cuts Like A Knife and Kissin In The Sand won turned in the final flight at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono when 17-1 Scuola Hanover handed 1-5 Come See The Show her first lifetime defeat.

Driven by David Miller in the $52,618 race, Scuola Hanover was positioned fourth through opening-half fractions of 28 and 58 1/5, but she would be moved first-over to take the lead away from Double A Mint (Yannick Gingras) on the outside past the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters.

While Scuola Hanover was making her move on the turn the pace quickened rapidly, and Come See The Show (Tim Tetrick), who had been in the pocket behind Double A Mint, gapped initially and then when she caught up was trapped in behind Double A Mint and a second-over Elysium Seelster (Scott Zeron) before getting room in the upper stretch. That delay in Come See The Show finding a seam was just what Scuola Hanover needed, as she put Double A Mint away turning for home and then held off Come See The Show to win by a length and a quarter in 1:53 4/5. Double A Mint would wind up third.

Scuola Hanover is a daughter of A Rocknroll Dance co-owned by trainer Andrew Stafford and partners Art Stafford and Thomas Ireland. This was her second victory from five career tries, and she has now earned $51,611. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Scuola Hanover was purchased for $12,000 at the Goshen Yearling Sale and is out of the Artsplace mare So Artsi ($367,119), a half-sister to Dancinwiththestarz (Four Starzzz Shark, $918,605). Scuola Hanover paid $37.80 to win.

Tetrick had better luck in the opening $52,218 section when Cuts Like A Knife was a 1:53 winner. With likely favorite Rainbow Room scratched sick, Cuts Like A Knife was dispatched at 3-5 and strolled through panels of 27 3/5, 58 1/5, and 1:26. A first-over Sansovina Hanover (Gingras) challenged at three-quarters, but Cuts Like A Knife put her away in the lane and then just held off Alexa's Power (Scott Zeron), who rallied three-wide after a second-over trip, to score by a nose. Apple Hanover (Brett Miller) took third.

Another filly by A Rocknroll Dance, Cuts Like A Knife is trained by Bruce Saunders for owners Charles, Julie, and Francene Nash. A $55,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Cuts Like A Knife has won in half of her six trips behind the gate, and she has now banked $62,718. Diamond Creek Farm bred Cuts Like A Knife, who is the first foal out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Whetstone Hanover, a half-sister to the likes of Ace Of Pace (Cam's Card Shark, $489,799). She returned $3.20 to win.

The second $52,618 division saw even-money public choice Kissin In The Sand (Gingras) give way to 5-2 second favorite Strong Opinion (Matt Kakaley) on the way to the 56 2/5 half. Strong Opinion held off a first-over Yankee Will Dance (Brett Miller) up the backstretch, to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, and around the final turn, but Kissin In The Sand came through the passing lane in the stretch and got around Strong Opinion to score by three-parts of a length in 1:52 4/5. Bye Hanover (Zeron) had a second-over trip and came in third.

The victorious Somebeachsomewhere filly is trained by Nancy Johansson for owners Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables. Kissin In The Sand sports a record of 3-1-0 from five efforts, and she has put away $39,559. Kissin In The Sand, who was bought for $130,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and was bred by Christina Takter, John Fielding, R A W Equine Inc. and Concord Stud Farm LLC. and is out of the Real Artist mare Kiss Me Kate ($283,839), a full sister to Kikikatie ($1,268,463) and a half-sister to Katie Said (Well Said, $506,476). Kissin In The Sand paid $4.20 to win.