WILKES-BARRE PA – After checking the season's leaders list for 5/8-mile tracks, it can be noted that the fastest two-year-old on the trot and the co-fastest two-year-old on the pace both competed during baby races at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Wednesday morning.
The fastest trotter among the babies is a filly named Check Out Trixie, and your surprise at her being able to precociously trot in 1:57.4, last half 57.2, will go away when we point out that she is a mating of Hambletonian winner Trixton and Check Me Out, the multiple-recordsetting champion. Trainer/driver Ray Schnittker moved her to the lead in front of the stands and there was little doubt from there, as Check Out Trixie also bettered the 1:58.1 put in by colt Fashion Possessed at Philly yesterday.
Tying for top honors among all baby pacers, and setting the standard for colts, was Lyons Night Hawk, a son of Sweet Lou and Weapons Against (she a half-sister to $2.4M winner and top sire A Rocknroll Dance). Lyons Night Hawk rallied from the pocket in a 27.4 kicker to complete a 1:53.4 package, matching the clocking registered by the filly Rose Run Uptowngal in a pari-mutuel race at The Meadows yesterday. Jason Bartlett guided the winner for trainer Gareth Dowse.
The first freshman heat yielded the day's fastest pacing filly in the Well Said filly Serena Said, who was home first in 1:55.1 – 57.1- 28.2. Out of the mare Selinas's Joy, a half-sister to $1.5M winner Shadow Play, Serena Said won for driver Corey Callahan and trainer John Butenschoen.
Quickest trotting colt of the session was Our White Knight, whose parents' names might suggest some confusion (Crazed-Psychotherapist), but who knew how to make every pole a winning one for Team Callahan/Butenschoen, winning in 2:00.2 with back numbers of 58.3 – 29.1. The winner is a full brother to $600G winner Theraputic.
With babies appearing on overnights and on the PA county fair scene, this will be the last of the morning reports on freshman action at the mountain oval. Now they'll have to earn their plaudits competing for purse money.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs