By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
WILKES-BARRE PA – Two-year-olds took to the track en masse for the first baby races of the 2025 season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Ten fields of freshmen were carded: three divisions for males at each gait, and two for females.
Fastest of the babies was a pacing filly, Tall Dark Tequila, a Tall Dark Stranger miss out of Tequila Monday (who won just shy of $1M in her racing career), and thus a half-sister to Thirsty Thursday, a winner of $271,300 last year at two. Tall Dark Tequila followed a move in front of the stands by Moana Hanover and was able to get to second, then came again in the stretch to defeat the leader by three parts of a length in 1:57.2 – :57.4 - :28.3 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Hunter Oakes, a hot pair at the pari-mutuels, and the ownership of Flying A Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.
Also getting a spot in the 2:00 book in her first race was another Buter - Oakes - Flying A Racing Stable production, the Papi Rob Hanover – OK Heavenly filly Imagine Heaven, who came from fifth at the half to win in 1:59, her own back numbers in :56.2 - :27; “Flying A” co-owns this one with Lucky Strike and Charles Oakes.
Two more sub-2:00 miles were rung up by pacing males in their first competition. The faster was the gelding Aurum Blue Chip (American Ideal - Triumphantbluechip, with Dan Patch Award-winning millionaire Fire Start Hanover not far back in his pedigree), who came home in :57.1 to win in 1:59 for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Jared Bako, the latter co-owner with Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. Also, the Huntsville – Certified Ideal colt Aggieville won in 1:59.2 – 28.1 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Jenny Melander.
Trotting honors fell to Money Mayfield, giving sire Greenshoe one of three wins during the early races. A gelding out of Casaubon and thus a full brother to Shes A Shoe In, s $190G winner last year at two, Money Mayfield won in 2:01 - :29.2 for driver-trainer Ray Schnittker, who is also co-owner with MA3 Racing Stable.
Honors in the trotting filly ranks went to a daughter of Greenshoe’s former stablemate Gimpanzee, Kerstin (dam Exploding Alice FI), who sat in the pocket then rushed home in :29.2 to post a 2:01.1 time for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Per Engblom, and the partnership of Engblom Stable LLC, R A W Equine Inc., Daniel Sarafian, and Evan Katz.
As you may have surmised, Tyler Buter, the leading driver at Pocono in the betting races, continued his mastery on the baby card with four successes. Trainer Jared Bako, who sent out thirteen first-timers, won with three of them (and added a success in a qualifier for older horses).
Trainers are looking to have their precocious babies ready for the stakes season in Pennsylvania. The Fair Sire Stakes season begins on June 25 at Butler; there is a Pennsylvania All-Stars event here at Pocono on June 30; and the Sire Stakes and Stallion Series commence at the pari-mutuels on July 2 at The Meadows.
The baby races and qualifiers are available for viewing at www.phha.org.
WILKES-BARRE PA – Two-year-olds took to the track en masse for the first baby races of the 2025 season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Ten fields of freshmen were carded: three divisions for males at each gait, and two for females.
Fastest of the babies was a pacing filly, Tall Dark Tequila, a Tall Dark Stranger miss out of Tequila Monday (who won just shy of $1M in her racing career), and thus a half-sister to Thirsty Thursday, a winner of $271,300 last year at two. Tall Dark Tequila followed a move in front of the stands by Moana Hanover and was able to get to second, then came again in the stretch to defeat the leader by three parts of a length in 1:57.2 – :57.4 - :28.3 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Hunter Oakes, a hot pair at the pari-mutuels, and the ownership of Flying A Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.
Also getting a spot in the 2:00 book in her first race was another Buter - Oakes - Flying A Racing Stable production, the Papi Rob Hanover – OK Heavenly filly Imagine Heaven, who came from fifth at the half to win in 1:59, her own back numbers in :56.2 - :27; “Flying A” co-owns this one with Lucky Strike and Charles Oakes.
Two more sub-2:00 miles were rung up by pacing males in their first competition. The faster was the gelding Aurum Blue Chip (American Ideal - Triumphantbluechip, with Dan Patch Award-winning millionaire Fire Start Hanover not far back in his pedigree), who came home in :57.1 to win in 1:59 for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Jared Bako, the latter co-owner with Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. Also, the Huntsville – Certified Ideal colt Aggieville won in 1:59.2 – 28.1 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Jenny Melander.
Trotting honors fell to Money Mayfield, giving sire Greenshoe one of three wins during the early races. A gelding out of Casaubon and thus a full brother to Shes A Shoe In, s $190G winner last year at two, Money Mayfield won in 2:01 - :29.2 for driver-trainer Ray Schnittker, who is also co-owner with MA3 Racing Stable.
Honors in the trotting filly ranks went to a daughter of Greenshoe’s former stablemate Gimpanzee, Kerstin (dam Exploding Alice FI), who sat in the pocket then rushed home in :29.2 to post a 2:01.1 time for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Per Engblom, and the partnership of Engblom Stable LLC, R A W Equine Inc., Daniel Sarafian, and Evan Katz.
As you may have surmised, Tyler Buter, the leading driver at Pocono in the betting races, continued his mastery on the baby card with four successes. Trainer Jared Bako, who sent out thirteen first-timers, won with three of them (and added a success in a qualifier for older horses).
Trainers are looking to have their precocious babies ready for the stakes season in Pennsylvania. The Fair Sire Stakes season begins on June 25 at Butler; there is a Pennsylvania All-Stars event here at Pocono on June 30; and the Sire Stakes and Stallion Series commence at the pari-mutuels on July 2 at The Meadows.
The baby races and qualifiers are available for viewing at www.phha.org.
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