Pocono: Sweet Kisses posts 10-1 upset in James M. Lynch Memorial

Sweet Kisses continued her winning ways with a second consecutive Grand Circuit stakes upset, capturing Saturday's $250,000 James M. Lynch Memorial for 3-year-old female pacers by 1 3/4 lengths over Sea Silk in 1:50 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Max Contract finished third.

Sweet Kisses, who won the Adioo Volo on July 30 at odds of 34-1, scored in the Lynch at 10-1 for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Ron Burke. It was the filly's fourth consecutive victory and fifth in her past six starts, with the setback coming by a head.

McCarthy and Sweet Kisses were fourth as 6-5 favorite Max Contract, who brought a four-race win streak to the Lynch, led the field to the opening quarter in 26 1/5 and half in 54 2/5. Sweet Kisses started to make a move on the backstretch and picked up cover from second-place Sea Silk, who came first-over on Max Contract as they hit three-quarters in 1:21 4/5.

Coming off the final turn, Sweet Kisses moved to the center of the track and stormed past her rivals in the stretch to get her sixth win in 11 starts this season.

"I knew that I was going to be following a good one from the half," McCarthy said. "When I turned her loose at the top of the stretch, she had a big heart about it and wanted to go forward. I was very pleased."

McCarthy, who won last year's Lynch with Grace Hill in a stakes-record 1:49, said the track conditions were favorable for horses to come from off-the-pace.

"If you use them a little bit too much early, they seem to struggle getting home a little bit, not to mention there is a little bit of a headwind in the stretch too," McCarthy said. "It's making for very fair racing."

Saturday marked the first time McCarthy drove Sweet Kisses.

"You're always grateful to pick up drives in these kinds of races, especially one of Ronnie's because you know he's going to have them spot-on," McCarthy said. "I'm super appreciative for that. He told me a little bit about her, and he couldn't have been more correct. She raced super. True to his word, she was terrific."

Sweet Kisses is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Knox Services, and Phil Collura. She is a daughter of Sweet Lou-Kiss Me and was bred by Concord Stud Farm. For her career, she has won eight of 14 races and earned $243,077.

She paid $22.40 to win.

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In the $125,000 Lynch Consolation I, Balance was fifth on the final turn before tipping off the pylons and rallying on the far outside of a five-horse battle to the wire to win by a neck over Just Divine in a lifetime-best 1:51 2/5. Galleria Hanover was fourth-placed-third, swapping places with Sweet Treasure who was dropped for a passing lane violation.

Balance, the 4-1 third choice, was driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Nancy Takter. She is owned by Diamond Creek Racing and Crossover Racing. The filly, a daughter of Bettor's Delight-West Of L A, was bred by Robert McIntosh Stables, C S X Stables, and Al McIntosh Holdings. Balance has won four of 16 career races and earned $246,729.

In the $75,000 Lynch Consolation II, Free To Be Me was fifth on the inside at three-quarters but angled wide coming off the final turn and sprinted to a career-best 1:51 4/5 win by a half-length over Miss Helen Hanover. Eager To Please finished third.

Free To Be Me, sent off as the 4-1 third choice, was driven by Matt Kakaley for trainer Jake Leamon. The filly is owned by Saulsbrook Stables, Michael McKenzie, and Edward Gorc. The daughter of Always B Miki-Indulge Me was bred by Stonegate Standardbred Farms. She has won six of 17 career races and earned $71,720.