Pocono: Svanstedt trotters impress in PA Sire Stakes divisions

Ake Svanstedt's barn had quite a day in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition for 3-year-old male trotters on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, posting 1-2 finishes in two divisions and a second-place finish in the other.

Captain Corey, driven by Ake, began the defense of his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes title from a year ago with a 10 1/2 length win in the second $49,770 tilt. Starting from the outside post six, Captain Corey led through fractions of 28 4/5, 57 4/5, and 1:26, widened his advantage throughout, and prevailed handily over stablemate Lepanto (Yannick Gingras), who held second despite being unable to keep up from the pocket. Fifty Ways (Todd McCarthy) was third.

A Googoo Gaagaa colt, Captain Corey is co-owned by Ake in partnership with S R F Stable, Knutsson Trotting Inc., and Midnight Sun Partners Inc. Captain Corey has six wins and a second from eight career starts, and he has now earned $356,523. He was the 1-5 favorite and paid $2.40 to win.

In the third and final $50,170 section, 1-2 favorite In Range (Tim Tetrick) broke before the start, throwing the race wide-open. With the chalk out of the picture, Svanstedt sent Delayed Hanover to the point and chopped out a 27 4/5 quarter, then strung out Type A (Gingras) before releasing him before the 56 second half-mile marker. Type A kept the lead to the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, dispatching a first-over try from Whiskey Blu (Dan Charlino) in the process, but when Whiskey Blu dropped back on the last turn, Svanstedt brought Delayed Hanover to the outside.

Type A gave way in the lane, with Delayed Hanover going by on the outside and another Svanstedt trainee in Johan Palema (Dexter Dunn) coming through in the passing lane after sitting on the cones in the three-hole. Delayed Hanover and Johan Palema hit the wire together, but the photo finish camera showed that Delayed Hanover had been able to keep in nose in front, taking the victory in 1:53. Type A came in third.

Svanstedt co-owns Delayed Hanover, a Southwind Frank colt, with partner Mellby Gard Inc. Delayed Hanover is now a two-time winner from eight trips behind the gate, and he has now put away $161,503. Dispatched at 17-1, Delayed Hanover returned $36.60 to win.

The only horse able to stop the Svanstedt train was Jujubee (Tony Hall) in the first $49,770 flight. Jujubee yielded to sit in the pocket behind Capstone (Svanstedt) after the 28 1/5 opening quarter and then waited in that spot while Capstone stepped off a 58 1/5 half and a 1:27 1/5 three-quarters. In the lane Hall brought Jujubee to the outside, he was able to out-kick Capstone to tally by a length in 1:54 4/5. Ceffyl Dwr (Jackie Ingrassia) was the third-place finisher.

Jujubee, a colt by Creatine, is trained by Greg Wright Jr. for owner/breeder Jon Erdner. Jujubee now has a record of 8-3-1 from 13 lifetime appearances, and he has banked $81,018. Sent off as the 1-2 choice, Jujubee paid $3.00 to win.