Longshots abound in PA All-Stars action at Pocono
July 18, 2022, by PHHA for The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for 2-year-old trotting fillies were featured on Monday (July 18) afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and after a favorite started the stakes action off, it was a longshot player’s delight the rest of the way.
Broadway Sensation wins a division of Pennsylvania All-Stars racing on a day of upsets at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.
There was no hint in the air of what was to come when the Father Patrick – Evelyn filly Vanessa J won as a heavy favorite while taking a maiden mark of 1:57.3 in an easy 4-1/4 length victory. Tim Tetrick guided the winner, who had been fourth in a PA Sire Stakes in her only other purse start, for owner/trainer Lucas Wallin, who has had quite the profitable relationship with Tetrick as of late.
Heavy favorite Angelpedia made the lead in another All-Stars division, but then she made a break past the eighth, leaving the race wide open. In the end, it was the International Moni – Possessed By Lindy filly Pembroke Moni who made the best rally in the last quarter, scoring her second career victory in a 1:58.3 mile by 1-1/4 lengths for meet-leading driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Mark Ford, and owner William Varney. The first four finishers in this race went off at 16-1, 26-1, 6-1, and 99-1.
David Miller won the other two races, although not getting the pari-mutuel respect a Hall of Famer is usually due. He guided the fastest All-Stars winner of the day, the Donato Hanover – Movitational Miss Portulaca,…