Pocono: Shalom Hanover over Starstruck Dreamer in marquee PaSS Championship matchup

The top Pennsylvania-sired 2-year-olds gathered on Labor Day Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, contesting their four $300,000 Championships and four $50,000 consolations.

PACING COLTS AND GELDINGS

The long-awaited supermatch between five-for-five two-year-old pacing colt standouts Shalom Hanover and Starstruck Dreamer was won in dramatic fashion by Shalom Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover-Sammy's Magic Girl) in 1:49 2/5, which equals both his own mark, taken in the divisional track record he set at Pocono on August 3. Starstruck Dreamer suffered no diminishment in reputation as he battled on only to succumb by a neck.

The post position draw, with Shalom Hanover getting post one and Starstruck Dreamer post eight (which became post seven due to a scratch), was thought by many to give a decided edge to the Dr. Ian Moore-trained colt. But the Pocono bettors did not agree, sending off Starstruck Dreamer at 50 cents on the dollar and Shalom Hanover at 11 to 10.

Shalom Hanover took immediate control from the rail, with Eastie Boy away well but tucking behind the pole horse as Ronnie Wrenn Jr. realized it would be "the big two" doing the work here (and was rewarded for his assessment with third). Louis Roy and Shalom Hanover pushed away hard with a 26 3/5 split, with Starstruck Dreamer (Todd McCarthy) having no viable option but to press on and take his chances setting the pace.

The middle fractions went in 54 seconds and 1:21 3/5, with everybody's eyes still on the front duo. Shalom Hanover went to Starstruck Dreamer's left in the lane, and for a second it looked like his late thrust might not get him there, but the trip proved decisive in deep stretch, with Shalom Hanover garnering a head decision over his big rival. The winner is owned by Shalom Hanover Stable.

"Before the race, Shalom Hanover was calmer than he had been before, so that was a good sign, for him to be more relaxed," Roy said. "I was happy after the first five (wins), but now I am even happier. In the race, post position definitely made a big difference. We used the luck of the draw to our advantage -- we made it work that way. These horses will meet again, and it could be another great matchup.

"Shalom Hanover will be going to the Metro now - that was the target for him."

Lounado would be one of three consolation winners who just missed out on a Championship starting spot by finishing ninth in the point standings, and, as if expressing his disappointment, the son of Sweet Lou-Lucy's Pearl exploded out of the pocket through the stretch for driver Matt Kakaley and was by himself at the end of his 1:52 consolation for a new mark. Lounado, coming off a win in the Parshall Futurity at Greenville (OH), is trained by Todd Luther and is owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC.

PACING FILLIES

Despite winning all three of her PaSS starts to be the top prelim point earner, the Captain Crunch-JK She'salady filly JK Lady Liberty was second choice in the betting, but she was victorious while taking a new mark of 1:51 1/5, benefiting from a clever drive by Scott Zeron.

The early fractions of 27 seconds and 55 2/5, with Aestas finally claiming the top, did not much involve the two choices – though perhaps My Taylors Swift, the Kentucky shipper and favorite, tucking fourth on the first turn would have impact, because directly behind her was JK Lady Liberty.

My Taylors Swift went up to the 1:23 three-quarters to challenge the leader two-wide on the turn; meanwhile Zeron, after following the chalk's cover, maneuvered back to the inside after the pocket horse gave way. And JK Lady Liberty was indeed the fresher horse in the last eighth, steaming up the inside for a fairly easy triumph; Loyal To The End and Gold Impact would be along to be second and third, respectively, ahead of My Taylors Swift.

JK Lady Liberty was second in her career bow, then has reeled off five straight wins, looking like a seasoned professional on the track. She is trained by Nancy Takter for 3 Brothers Stable, who also raced her dam, an expert at precociousness who won Horse of the Year at two.

The Captaintreacherous-Jolly Miss Molly filly Love Somebody, another who had just missed out on her Championship by being ninth in the prelim point totaling, had to take the difficult uncovered route from sixth, challenging pace-setting favorite Fauvette Hanover in the consolation. But in the end it was Love Somebody who proved to be the strongest horse, breaking her maiden in 1:53 4/5. Yannick Gingras was in the sulky for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Country Club Acres Inc. and Joe Sbrocco.

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TROTTING COLTS AND GELDINGS

Recently-elected Hall of Famer Ake Svanstedt sent out the first three finishers in the trotting colt and gelding Championship, with favored Jimdougie Armitage, the favorite who rode a pocket journey, just working his way by late over Big Time Trot S in 1:55, equaling his mark.

Jimdougie Armitage had the early lead with Svanstedt driving; Yannick Gingras with Big Time Trot S eyed a three-hole tuck, then decided to press forward past the 28 2/5 quarter for command. He set middle fractions of 56 4/5 and 1:25 4/5; point leader Dream Shaq had been out the mile and began to fade, but "Jimdougie" looked fresh after the garden journey.

But the pace-setter had some trot left as well, and for much of the stretch it looked like the 8-1 leader might withstand his favored stablemate. But the Pocono surface certainly was not helping pace-setters on this day; Jimdougie Armitage persisted and finally was a head more photogenic. Yankee Boss came a long way to be third, missing first by only a neck, and completed the Svanstedt trifecta.

"Jimdougie" has now won his last three races, the previous two first-over and now this one after the fine journey. His ownership reads S R F Stable, Knutsson Trotting Inc., Brochart Stable Inc., and Svanstedt & Midnight Sun.

The Greenshoe-Fashion Spooner colt Black Tesla joined a backstretch two-wide flow third-over, then ducked inside for the stretch rather than fan wider, and that strategy worked well for driver Ridge Warren as the Nicklas Andersen trainee used the famous Pocono Pike for a 1:57 4/5 consolation victory, catching favored Southern Hanover by a neck. Wayne Stoltzfus owns the winner.

TROTTING FILLIES

The Captain Corey-Melania filly Birr Castle had been odds-on in all four of her previous pari-mutuel starts, with three wins and a second, and a 3-2-1-0 Sire Stakes prelim scorecard that put her #1 in the point standings.

But Orinoco, who beat her last week, was in here, as was Two Day Hangover, Birr Castle's stablemate in Team Melander who was unbeaten in three career starts, including two PaSS wins. And Birr Castle did have to start from the outside post six. So, the crowd let her get away as the 5-1 third choice - and Birr Castle bounced back to capture her Championship, with the 1:53 4/5 time equaling not only her own mark but also the Championship record for her division, set by Ginger Tree Lex last year.

Pattys Girl took early control, but Orinoco in second and Two Day Hangover in third looked "itchy" to go, and indeed in front of the stands after the 27 4/5 quarter Orinoco first moved to the top, with Two Day Hangover on her heels and taking over the racetrack by the 56 1/5 half. Shortly after that, Birr Castle got underway from last for driver Scott Zeron.

Birr Castle had a relentless forward gear and kept gaining to the 1:24 4/5 three quarters and through the turn, and Orinoco was ready for more from the two-hole in the stretch. Faced with pressure from both sides, Two Day Hangover gave a bit of ground, and in the dash to the wire Birr Castle proved three-quarters of a length better over Orinoco for trainer Marcus Melander and Pheasant Hill Farm (Ed Lohmeyer).

Another competitor who just missed out on a spot in her final by finishing ninth in the point standings, the Captain Corey-Caviart Jenny filly Cabaletta Hanover got a nice "consolation prize": winning her consolation in a lifetime best 1:56 1/5. Matt Kakaley got her into gear in the second-half and kept gaining until she made the lead, coasting home for trainer Emily Bost, who is also the co-owner with Steve Salerno, who took win crowns in both training and driving at PcD and also was a UDR champ.

FINISHING LINES – Hustle Rain S set fast fractions of 26 3/5, 54 3/5 and 1:22 3/5 in his first U.S. start, but favored Dame Good Time had him in his sights, and the Chapter Seven gelding went by the impressive newcomer by three-parts of a length with a 1:50 4/5 victory in the $27,500 fast-class handicap trotting feature. Dexter Dunn drove for trainer Nicholas Devita and owner John Cummins. Pocono will now take a short "reconditioning" break - there will be no live racing on Saturday, September 12 or Monday, September 14. The next racing card will take place on Tuesday, September 15, which will be drawn on Wednesday the 9th.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--