Pocono: Svanstedt, Burke both double in PA Sire Stakes Championships

The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champions in the 2-year-old divisions were determined on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in four $253,000 events. Ake Svanstedt drove two of his pupils to victories in the trotting races, and David Miller and Ron Burke teamed up to take both paces.

Captain Corey (Svanstedt) improved to four-for-four in his career with a life's-best 1:53 3/5 effort in the colt and gelding trot. Captain Corey had to race from first-up today, but in the lane he wore down fellow Svanstedt trainee Johan Palema (Dexter Dunn), who had led through fractions of 27 1/5, 57, and 1:25, and held safe over In Range (Tim Tetrick) to win by two lengths. Johan Palema held third, followed by Arnold N Dicky (Dave Palone) and Ethan T Hanover (Brian Sears).

A $150,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy last year, Captain Corey is by Googoo Gaagaa and is owned by S R F Stable, Knutsson Trotting Inc., and Midnight Sun Partners Inc. Captain Corey, who was bred by Carter Duer, has banked $264,563 to go with his perfect record. Captain Corey is the first foal out of the Angus Hall mare Luv U All, a half-sister to Deadliest Catch (Chocolatier, 1:53 2/5, $184,175 and Love U Overandover (Andover Hall, 1:55 2/5, $152,960). Captain Corey was part of an entry sent off at 1-9 and paid $2.10 to win.

Miller and Burke prevailed for the first time in the colt and gelding pace with Southwind Gendry. Away fifth from post two, Southwind Gendry picked up cover from Chase H Hanover (Sears) to sit second-over after the 55 3/5 half and moved up into contention as Chase H Hanover and Always A Miki (Dunn) were nose-to-nose at the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters.

Coming off the last turn, Miller sent Southwind Gendry three-wide, and he rallied strongly after angling out, surging past the leaders and on to the win by a length and a half in 1:51 3/5. Chase H Hanover got in close quarters with Always A Miki in upper stretch but held second after steadying some, and Bayfield Beach (Andrew McCarthy) got third. Fourth went to Lou's Pearlman (Matt Kakaley) and Crunch Hanover (Scott Zeron) took fifth.

Burke trains Southwind Gendry, a gelding from the first crop of Always B Miki, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, Knox Services Inc., and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Southwind Gendry, who was bred by Southwind Farms LLC. and went for $30,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 4-0-0 from six tries, and he has now earned $217,144. Southwind Gendry is the sixth foal out of the Cam's Card Shark mare Gambler's Passion (1:50 4/5, $123,100), a three-quarter sister to Geez Joe (Roll With Joe, 1:47 4/5, $324,932). Sent off at 4-5, Southwind Gendry returned $3.80 to win.

Svanstedt was back getting his picture taken for a second time following a 1:54 3/5 decision with Flawless Country in the filly trot. Flawless Country was in the lead at the 27 3/5 opening quarter but got shuffled back to third before the 56 1/5 half when both Gimme Shelter (Dunn) and Anoka Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) moved around her. Svanstedt elected to sit in, so You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory) went first-up from fourth after the half, and she advanced into second as Anoka Hanover clicked off three-quarters in 1:25 1/5.

You Ato Dream sustained her bid around the bend and had a narrow advantage on the outside turning for home, but the passing lane became available in the lane for Svanstedt after Dunn decided to go two-wide with Gimme Shelter after three-quarters, and Flawless Country delivered a good kick after getting out, tallying by a neck. You Ato Dream finished second for the fourth straight time, and Anoka Hanover got third. Insta Glam (Tetrick) was fourth, followed by Pub Crawl (Andy Miller).

From the first crop of Southwind Frank, Flawless County is co-owned by Svanstedt in partnership with Wolfgang A Stable Inc. and Borje Nasstrom. Flawless County, bred by Christian Stoltzfus, was a $100,000 purchase at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, now has four victories from six efforts, and has pocketed $263,496. Flawless Country is the third foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Aleah Hanover (1:59 4/5, $8,836), a half-sister to Cruzado Dela Noche (Muscle Massive, 1:53 3/5, $1,383,639). Flawless Country was the 9-5 favorite and paid $5.80 to win.

Blue Diamond Eyes completed the Burke and Miller double by bagging the filly pace in 1:51. Blue Diamond Eyes hustled to the top before the 27 3/5 opening quarter, then was overtaken by Marsala Hanover (Zeron) and Grace Hill (Dunn) prior to the 55 1/5 half. Grace Hill resisted a first-over move from Continualou (Joe Bongiorno) to the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters and on to the last turn and turned for home first, but Blue Diamond Eyes surged up the passing lane and on to the win by three-parts of a length. Grace Hill had to settle for second, followed by Thebeachiscalling (McCarthy), Marsala Hanover, and Continualou.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous, Blue Diamond Eyes is trained by Ron Burke for owners Thomas and Scott Dillon. Bred by Brittany Farms LLC., Blue Diamond Eyes was a $180,000 buy at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is the second foal out of the Well Said mare Aria Hanover (1:53 1/5, $130,136), making her a full sister to Captain Kirk (1:48 3/5, $178,902). Blue Diamond Eyes has three wins from six efforts, has banked $192,402, and returned $10.20 to win as the 4-1 third choice.

There were also four $50,000 Consolation events for horses who didn't accumulate enough points to make their respective finals. Trainer Nifty Norman sent out two winners, taking the colt and gelding trot with Jack Fire, by Cantab Hall, in 1:56 1/5 for driver McCarthy and owners Pinske Stables and Curly Tall Curly Small and the filly pace with Fire Start Hanover, by Somebeachsomewhere, in 1:52 3/5 with Dunn driving for owners Pinske Stables, David Hoese, and Lawrence Means.

Dunn also connected in the filly trot with May Karp, by Cantab Hall, in 1:55 4/5 for trainer Lucas Wallin and owner Shermay Stables, and the colt and gelding pace went to Whichwaytothebeach, by Somebeachsomewhere, in 1:52 1/5 for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Rollie Mallar, and owners Alan Johnston and John Craig.