Pocono: Wallin discusses Delmonica Hanover, Hambletonian drive

Trainer Lucas Wallin has a pair of sophomore trotting fillies entered in the inaugural Delmonica Hanover stakes this Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Nevertheless, the conditioner appeared more interested in who wasn't in the field for the $250,000 event.

"The two top fillies from the Hambletonian Oaks are missing," Wallin said, noting that Bella Bellini, a terror over the five-eighths mile Pocono strip, was ineligible to the event and that Oaks runner-up Iteration side-stepped the event and took on New York Sire Stakes foes midweek instead.

That's likely why Wallin is happy where he stands with his pair of fillies among the nine horses entered in the main event of two Delmonica Hanover races on the card. Mazzarati, a $250K winner as a 2-year-old, drew post three with Tim Tetrick scheduled to drive, while stablemate May Karp landed post seven in the field.

"Dexter Dunn will drive May Karp," Wallin said, adding, "He drove her last year and got along with here fine."

Of the two, Mazzarati has the position edge and perhaps the talent to handle the five-eighths miler and get her second win of the season. A recent runner-up to May Karp in a division of the Continentalvictory at the Meadowlands, Mazzarati barely missed qualifying for the Hambletonian Oaks, a race she contested without Lasix. Was the absence of the drug an issue in the Oaks?

"I don't think the Lasix made a difference, honestly," said Wallin. "She got into traffic, and I think that was why she didn't make the final."

Both Wallin fillies could have an advantage over the smaller ovals.

"I think both of my fillies are good getting around the turns and don't have to be nursed," said Wallin, hoping that gives an edge, especially over the speed-favoring Pocono surface.

As for May Karp, she enters the Delmonica Hanover following a career-best 1:52 2/5 score in the Continentalvictory where she trotted out in 27 2/5 and then posted a 27 3/5 final quarter for her second win of the season. Her stakes resume shows a 1:55 4/5 victory last year at Pocono, and this year she was just a length off in third in a division of the Del Miller at the Meadowlands to Donna Soprano, a top-rated filly that also will be passing on the Delmonica Hanover despite being eligible.

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While the missing fillies may diminish the star power in the initial offering of this stakes event, it will likely inspire a host of the contenders to put forth a maximum effort. You Ato Dream (post one) is one likely beneficiary, having drawn post six or further out in her last four starts. The Jeff Gregory-trained lass is one of three Hambletonian Oaks finalists entered in the field and can be excused for a sixth-place finish after racing from well off-the-pace. You Ato Dream has won four of her nine races this year.

Darlene Hanover was prominent, setting the pace in the Oaks and then fading to fourth in the field at the finish. The Chapter Seven-sired filly landed post five in the Delmonica Hanover, and that could set her up nicely to either leave or find a good cover trip.

Flawless Country (post four) was no worse than second in nine starts for trainer Ake Svanstedt as a 2-year-old, but this year the daughter of Southwind Frank has gone winless in seven tries. Still, those that have followed Svanstedt's stable have to respect his horses whenever they are entered in stakes competition. Flawless Country finished fifth in the Hambletonian Oaks.

While Wallin is excited about his chances on Saturday at Pocono, he's looking forward to racing a few more of his 2-year-olds in the coming weeks. The Walner-sired Wallabee is a filly he acquired a few months ago, and she made her stakes debut this past Sunday (August 15) at The Red Mile.

"I think I might have overdriven her," said Wallin in regard to Wallabee's second-place finish in a Kentucky Sire Stakes Commonwealth division.

The back story on Wallabee, a filly from the immediate family of champion Bee A Magician, is that she was hurt in a training accident and missed a lot of time recovering. With the missing time, Wallabee was left out of major stakes races that obviously seemed well out of reach for her 2-year-old season.

"She's eligible to the Sire Stakes and then two weeks of the Grand Circuit at The Red Mile," said Wallin. "There's no Breeders Crown or Goldsmith Maid."

Wallabee had captured a qualifier at the Meadowlands in just 1:59 3/5 before her first career start, and Wallin pointed the filly right to the top in her Red Mile debut, setting fractions of 29 3/5, 58, and 1:26 2/5 before giving way to the more experienced Date Night. Wallabee trotted her mile in 1:55 2/5, giving her trainer-driver hope for the future.

"I think she'll be much better following horses," said Wallin.

Wallin also reflected on his driving performance in the Hambletonian behind Cuatro De Julio.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime race for the horse and his connections," Wallin said. "I thought if I take him back to last from post 10 there wasn't going to be any chance of winning."

Cuatro De Julio was involved in a blistering 26 second opening quarter as he vied for command with eventual race-winner Captain Corey.

"They changed the bridle for the race, and it made him more aggressive," said Wallin, indicating he was somewhat a passenger through the vicious opening quarter. "When I tried to take a hold of him and set him in the two-hole, Ake (Svanstedt behind Captain Corey) also took a hold of his horse, shutting me out of the hole."

Needless to say, Wallin fought on and pushed Captain Corey with his charge as hard as he could, making this year's Hambletonian more memorable than it might have been had Captain Corey and stablemate Delayed Hanover controlled a much slower pace.

While Wallin will earn no bonus points for the drive, and some may suggest it was a suicide mission, it would be wise to point out that many drivers mail in their response after post positions are drawn.

"My horse was entering the race in great form," said Wallin, indicating he wanted to win the race regardless of the post or competition.

Had Captain Corey not come up as brilliant as he did, perhaps Cuatro De Julio's performance would have been a winning one, as clearly those not contesting the lead in this race were mostly flat in the homestretch.

Cuatro De Julio is back in Kentucky now and perhaps he and Wallin will get a chance at redemption in the coming weeks.