SVANSTADT STABLEMATES 1-2 TWICE IN POCONO SIRE STAKES
By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
WILKES-BARRE PA – Trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt had a ”double double” during the second prelim of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for three-year-old trotting colts on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, sending out the 1-2 finishers in two of the three divisions while guiding both winners.
One of the divisions matched the three first-round Sires winners, but Svanstedt accounted for that with the 17-1 Southwind Frank colt Delayed Hanover in that one's first start of the year, winning in 1:53 for a new mark. Svanstedt vacated the pocket with his charge turning for home, giving stablemate Johan Palema (Dexter Dunn), one of the first prelim winners, a shot in the Pocono Pike from third-in. The pair attacked pacesetter Type A in the stretch, with Johan Palema gaining a short lead before Åke coaxed more from Delayed Hanover to defeat his barnmate by a nose for Melby Gard Inc. and Åke Svanstedt Inc. Favored In Range made a break before the start and was always out of range.
In another grouping, Svanstedt brought out the Googoo Gaagaa colt Captain Corey for his 2021 bow, and the 2020 Sire Stakes champion made this event quite a contrast to its companion photo finish section: pacesetter Captain Corey came home in :27.4 and won by 10½ lengths over stablemate Lepanto (Yannick Gingras), who happened to be the 2020 Stallion Series champion. Captain Corey is owned by S R F Stable, Knutsson Trotting Inc., Midnight Sun Partners Inc., and Åke Svanstedt Inc.
The Creatine colt Jujubee stalked yet another Svanstedter, Capstone, from the pocket, then caught him in the stretch to post a length decision in 1:54.4. Jujubee trotted his own last quarter in :27.2 to win for driver Tony Hall, trainer Greg Wright Jr., and owner Jon Erdner while running his seasonal tally to 6-for-8.
Another stakes double was achieved by the team of driver Bob McClure, trainer Luc Blais, and owner Determination, with one of their winners the 2020 Breeders Crown champion On A Streak, as the Cantab Hall colt won for the first time this year in 1:56.2. Their other success story came from the Bar Hopping gelding Inaminute Hanover, who has now taken five of his last six starts, this one in a lifetime best 1:55.3.
The other StS winners have been triumphant in both their PA program starts this year. Cantab Hall got a siring double credit when the gelding The Irishman equaled his mark of 1:55.3 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer George Ducharme, and the ownership of W Donovan, Thomas Dillon, Purnel & Libby Inc., and Joe Sbrocco; the other section saw the Father Patrick colt Sunny Crockett improved his seasonal tally to 4-3-1-0 with a 1:54.4 triumph for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller, along with the ownership of Willow Oak Ranch and Andy Miller Stable Inc.
