Pocono: Tequila Monday, Brazuca, Agent Q victorious in Lynch eliminations

While other events on the card saw upsets, it was nothing but chalk in the trio of $20,000 James M. Lynch Memorial eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday at Pocono, with Tequila Monday, Brazuca, and Agent Q delivering as expected by the public.

Tequila Monday (Brian Sears) and Idyllic Beach (Yannick Gingras) settled in first and second through fractions of 26 3/5, 55 3/5, and 1:22 4/5 in the first elimination, with Gingras pulling pocket before the fillies turned for home. Idyllic Beach gained ground through the lane, but the wire came up in time to give Tequila Monday the victory by a nose in 1:50 4/5, which equaled her career-best clocking. Inverse Hanover (David Miller) was the third-place finisher.

"I was happy with her. That was a top filly on her back and she dug in," Sears said.

Chris Oakes trains Tequila Monday, an American Ideal filly, for owners Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey. This year's Lismore champion, she has banked $358,543 to go with eight career victories. The 1-5 favorite, Tequila Monday paid $2.60 to win.

In the next elimination 3-5 choice Brazuca (Corey Callahan) took over the lead past the 26 1/5 opening quarter, then went on to reach the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5. Big City Betty (Jim Marohn Jr.), who sat third on the inside through the first three-quarters of the mile, came up the inside in the lane and cut into Brazuca's margin, but Brazuca held safe to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 3/5. Misqued (Steve Smith) was up for third to make the final.

"She gutted it out," said Callahan. "She may have bled. She's been coming home better than that."

Brazuca is a daughter of Bettor's Delight trained by Tom Cancelliere for owner John Cancelliere. This was her eighth lifetime triumph (three-for-three this year), and she has earned $119,666. She returned $3.20 to win.

In the final elimination Bettor's Up (Brett Miller) and Agent Q (David Miller), who were first and second in last Saturday's Fan Hanover at Mohawk, faced off again, but the result was reversed as Agent Q got the better of Bettor's Up in a lifetime-best 1:51 1/5 mile. Sent off at 3-5, Agent Q grabbed control on the outside at the 27 2/5 opening quarter, and after a 56 1/5 half and a 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, Agent Q sprinted home in 27 seconds to defeat a first-over Bettor's Up by about two lengths. Caviart Ally stayed in third to advance to the final.

The victorious filly by Western Terror is trained by Aaron Lambert for owners Martin Scharf, Rochetti Cassar Racing, and Robert Muscara. Agent Q made her sixth winner's circle appearance, and she has now put away $586,635. She paid $3.20 to win.