Pocono: Tetrick, Burke strike twice in Pennsylvania All-Stars

There were four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for 2-year-old pacing males at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday, and trainer Ron Burke won two of them, sending out two favored first-time starters, one of whom set a season's record for colts and the other beat out a stablemate after a good battle.

It was obvious that the Stay Hungry-Francessa colt Frantic Hanover had a ton of ability, coming into his first purse start off a qualifier in which he paced his back three-quarters in 1:22 over a mile track. And he again showed superb promise while winning in 1:52 1/5, the season's record for rookie colts on an five-eighths-mile sized track.

Thai Hanover shot out to command ahead of the winner, reached the quarter in 28 seconds, and then backed off the half to 57 3/5. After speeding up to a 1:25 1/5 three-quarter pole lead, Thai Hanover continued gamely and still had a 27 second kicker in him, but he also had a determined colt chasing him to his right, and the photo decision gave the nod to Frantic Hanover by a head. Tim Tetrick drove the precocious freshman for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Brad Grant and Knox Services Inc.

Burke's other All-Stars winner was Al Papi, a Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy colt coming off two Gaitway wins with sub-55 second back-halves. That turn of quick foot served him well again today, as after sitting the two-hole to splits of 28 1/5 and 58 seconds, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. moved the talented baby to the lead before a 1:26 three-quarters, then withstood on-rushing stablemate Melillo (another one to watch for) in 1:53 1/5 for a mark. Al Papi is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Larry Karr.

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Papi Rob Hanover earned another All-Stars sire credit with Swig Hanover (dam Stolly Up Bluechip), who may be the only undefeated horse around with a "negative cumulative margin": in his first start he was second, beaten a neck, but was placed up as another rival went inside pylons, while Monday he put up the fractions of 28 3/5, 58 and 1:25 4/5, then held off favored potential pocket rocket Wingin The Captain by a head in 1:53 2/5, also a mark. Tim Tetrick grabbed a second All-Stars credit by piloting the Darran Cassar trainee for Jessica and Cayla Cassar, Barry Charles, Robert Muscara, and William Rochetti Jr.

The only gelding to win an All-Stars contest, Western Raptor (Wild Wild Western-Kitty Kitty Hawk), is now two-for-two after just missing his own section season's mark by a tick with a 1:52 4/5 victory. Mike Wilder moved the winner to the lead after a 27 4/5 quarter, went on with mid-splits of 56 4/5 and 1:25 2/5, then rushed home in 27 2/5 for trainer Norm Parker and owner Andrew Altobelli.

A first-rate $25,000 fast-class mares pace saw the Shadow Play mare Silk Cloud A show both speed and grit in lowering her lifetime mark in 1:49 1/5. Lauren Tritton left like a flash with the winner, hung Talk Curdy With Me well past a 25 4/5 opener before yielding to the one to sit in the pocket to a 55 second half. But Tritton sent her mare, a career winner of $554,981, back out at the five-eighths and to the lead by a 1:22 three-quarters; favored Louisville GB loomed off cover, but Silk Cloud A found a little more and earned a one length decision for trainer Peter Tritton and owners Eric Good and David Kryway.

Pennsylvania All-Stars competition for 2-year-olds will also be featured on the week-ending Tuesday 1 p.m. card at Pocono, with three $30,000 divisions for trotting fillies to be in the spotlight.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--