Pocono: Up Your Deo completes stakes grand slam for Svanstedt in Beal Memorial

Up Your Deo and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt used a pocket trip behind Celebrity Bambino and pounced with an inside move in the stretch to win Saturday's (Aug. 19) $300,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters by 1 3/4 lengths over Kilmister in 1:52 3/5. Kierkegaard K finished third and Celebrity Bambino was fourth.

Oh Well went off-stride going for the early lead from post eight, leaving Up Your Deo in front on the first turn before Celebrity Bambino took the top spot as they reached the quarter in 27 3/5. Celebrity Bambino got to the half in 56 seconds and three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, and remained in front into the stretch, but was unable to hold the position from there.

Up Your Deo came home fastest of all over the final quarter-mile, 28 3/5, to claim the victory.

"I was extremely confident (in the stretch)," co-owner and breeder Mike Gulotta of Deo Volente Farms said. "I saw him coming up the rail and I said 'it's over.' He pulled away by a couple lengths; it was awesome. It's a thrill."

Winless in eight races at age 2, Up Your Deo has won four of seven races this year, including the MGM Yonkers Trot. He has earned $544,487 for owners Deo Volente Farms, Ake Svanstedt Inc., Suleyman Yuksel Stables, and Van Camp Trotting Corp.

"It's a tremendous high," Gulotta said. "He made us proud."

The win was Svanstedt's fourth of the day as a trainer-driver. It also was his third Beal title in the last four editions of the race.

Up Your Deo, a son of Walner-Grand Stand, paid $5.60 to win as the 9-5 favorite.

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Black Magic upset at odds of 12-1 to win the $200,000 Beal Consolation I over favorite Crown and Devilish Hill. The colt was driven by David Miller for trainer Steve Cross and owners Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, and Joseph Lozito Jr. It was Black Magic's first win in 11 starts this season and sixth in 21 lifetime. The son of Full Count-Glisten Hanover, who was bred by Marvin Raber, upped his career earnings to $317,874.

Little Expensive won the $100,000 Beal Consolation II for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller. Brace For Landing finished second and Kobe B was third. Little Expensive is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Daniel Plouffe, and Jean Goehlen. The son of Muscle Hill-Seviyorum was bred by Stroy Inc. and has won two of seven races this season and four of 11 in his career, earning $100,762.