Shalom Hanover, Starstruck Dreamer set for epic clash

WILKES-BARRE PA – This Sunday and Monday, the eastern Pennsylvania harness tracks, Harrah’s Philadelphia and Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, will be hosting $2.8M of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship and consolation races, with the sophomores on Sunday at Philly and the freshmen on Monday at Pocono.

As stated earlier, a press release will be issued Wednesday afternoon, previewing all eight of the Championships, divided by sex and gait, and that will still be forthcoming. However, the card for the two-year-olds was drawn Tuesday at Pocono, and it yielded a significant piece of information about the highly-anticipated matchup in the freshman colt pace finale between Shalom Hanover and Starstruck Dreamer, both sub-1:50f winners at Pocono on August 3 and both undefeated in five starts.

Shalom Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover) drew post one.

Starstruck Dreamer (Captaintreacherous) drew post eight.

This advantageous shake of the pills might provide a significant edge for Shalom Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover – Sammy’s Magic Girl), who set a 1:49.2f world record in his Pocono race for driver Louis Roy, trainer Dr. Ian Moore, and the Shalom Hanover Stable. He has since won the Dream Maker and Nassagaweya Stakes in his native Ontario.

On the other hand, Starstruck Dreamer (Captaintreacherous – Scarlett Hanover) is far from having had his chances ruined despite the tough draw for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Noel Daley, and owners Steve Wienick Racing LLC, Pryde Stables Inc., JFoderaTRitchieCanAmerica, and Hyatt Holdings Inc. Starstruck Dreamer, who won in 1:49.4f at Pocono, then went on to Philly on August 14 and paced the fastest mile ever by a two-year-old on a five-eighth mile track, 1:48.4f.

The dramatic post draw in this eagerly-awaited freshman matchup seemed to merit its own short story – but the full, detailed release on all the Sire Stakes races will still be issued later tomorrow afternoon, after Philly draws the card for the three-year-olds.

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs