Pocono: Sig Sauer staves off Situationship in Earl Beal Jr. Memorial

Sig Sauer, who was in contention in the stretch in the Hambletonian but ran into traffic trouble and wound up fourth, had clear sailing in today's $300,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for sophomore male trotters at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania and came up with a 1:51 3/5 triumph.

Driver Andy McCarthy was aggressive with Sig Sauer and showed speed with him from post three while pole-sitter Spaaaanzano (Aaron Merriman) and post four starter T C I (David Miller) both made breaks. Quickest away from the six-hole had been Situationship (Yannick Gingras), though, but he would relent and yield to Sig Sauer after the 27 4/5 quarter.

McCarthy would get away with just a 56 4/5 half with Sig Sauer as 65-1 shot Gruesome Twosome (Daryl Bontrager), who had tucked into fourth from post eight, commenced a first-over bid. Gruesome Twosome was tracked by Security Protected (Scott Zeron), but Sig Sauer was still well in control through three-quarters in 1:24 1/5 and around the final bend.

In the stretch Siutationship ducked into the passing lane, and it looked like he had momentum to get by, but Sig Sauer was game when asked by McCarthy and held on by a neck at the wire. Amazing Catch (Dexter Dunn), Gruesome Twosome and Security Protected rounded out the top five.

"I knew I had a couple of good ones on my back. I kind of wanted to make sure of it," remarked McCarthy after the race. "I asked him to get trotting there at the head of the stretch and he responded. In the middle of the stretch I could just feel he was just gonna keep doing what he had to do.

"It was an unlucky draw really in the Hambletonian. We didn't have that many options. He was super, just didn't have really anywhere to go. I was super-happy that he could get it done today."

By Muscle Hill, Sig Sauer was bred by Southwind Farms and is trained by Noel Daley for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco And Jaf Racing, Allister Stables LLC. and Caviart Farms. He made his sixth appearance in the winner's circle from 10 trips behind the gate, has put away $584,312 and paid $4.20 to win.

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"He as good as any of them I think right now. There are three or four of them that are legit in there," Daley said and added that Sig Sauer will head to the New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands. "You can't take it away, Karl's the one they've got to beat, but I'm not saying I can't beat him. I've beat him once and we can beat him again.

"We've never really had him (on front), but Andy had said he planned to go forward and see what happened. For a minute there I thought they were going to get him, but he said 'no, he was fine.' He's pretty versatile and he's got his mind on the job right now. He's a very good horse. He can be a bit of a handful around the barn, but on the track he's been a very good horse for us."

The $200,000 consolation I would see 99-1 shot Victor Laszlo (Mark MacDonald) at the head of affairs at the 27 4/5 opening quarter, but he would be third before the 56 4/5 half as first 4-5 favorite Private Access (James MacDonald) moved around him, and then 6-5 second choice Tony Adams S (Dexter Dunn) swept from third to the engine.

Wild Ticket (Scott Zeron) tested the waters first-up from fourth in the third quarter and got to second at the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, but Tony Adams S rebuffed his advance, and then Wild Ticket dropped down to the cones on the last turn when Private Access jumped it off. That left Tony Adams S with a gap on his competition turning for home, and he wouldn't relinquish it, tallying by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:51 4/5 to equal his career-best clocking. Wild Ticket was the runner-up and Victor Laszlo finished third.

Tony Adams S is a colt by Muscle Hill and is trained by Ake Svanstedt for owner/breeder Stall Arsenal AB. Tony Adams S has a summary of 4-4-2 from 13 efforts, sent his bankroll to $258,919 and returned $4.40 to win.

In the $100,000 consolation II Greenspan (Dunn) was the leader at the 26 3/5 quarter after he left from post seven, but Life On The Bluf (Rikard Skoglund) pulled from the pocket to take over the top spot beyond that marker. Life On The Bluf reached the half first in 55 4/5 and then rebuffed a first-over challenge by 1-2 favorite Smart Schooner (McCarthy), who had been parked throughout, through three-quarters in 1:23 3/5.

Smart Schooner began to tire from the tough trip on the last turn, and that left it down to Life On The Bluf and Greenspan to decide it. Dunn tipped Greenspan to the outside for the drive, and although Life On The Bluf was game, Greenspan was able to out-foot him to get the victory by half a length in 1:52 2/5, lowering his mark by three full seconds. Its Wasnt Me (Jason Bartlett) was the third-place finisher.

Jim Campbell trains Greenspan, a Greenshoe gelding, for owner/breeder Runthestable Stables. Greenspan has four wins from 19 career starts, has earned $246,753 and paid $21.20 to win as a 9-1 offering.