Tyson followed cover two and three-wide down the backstretch, dropped down to two-wide raw on the far turn, and caught favoured Such An Angel to win the $21,500 featured trot Sunday in 1:54.2 over 'sloppy' going at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Driver Corey Callahan, who tied with Matt Kakaley for driving honours on the card with each getting a trio of winners, kept moving up with cover as Such An Angel carved up the pace, then found himself raw on the turn as the two horses who had been two-wide in front of him found rail spots on the curve after the pocket horse faded. The Donato Hanover gelding plowed through the muck late to get the decision, 1-3/4 lengths clear of Such An Angel late while boosting his earnings to $162,350. Trainer Ed Gannon Jr. is also a co-owner of Tyson with Yannick Gingras and Frank Canzone.

The Art Major gelding Major Trick has climbed to the top of the Pocono claiming ladder by winning his sixth race in his last seven starts, taking the $20,000 pacing handicap feature in 1:53. Major Trick had pocket position much of the way for Jim Marohn Jr., but he suffered a momentum disadvantage coming into the stretch as Legion Of Boom, who had been three-wide from the 11/16, swept the field entering the lane and looked tough to overhaul. But Major Trick found a lightning-quick gear once free in the Pocono Pike and ran down Legion Of Boom for a half-length win. The winner of $349,096 was trained by Mike Watson for owner Clifford Grundy – and we say “was” because Major Trick was claimed for a $30,000 tag for the fifth time in his last eight starts (Legion of Boom also changed hands for $30,000).

In addition to the stormy weather, there was pari-mutuel thunder at two points throughout the night: Pat Berry took advantage of a good inside trip to win the second with Major Buddy A at $79.20, and then in race nine Bilbo Hanover withstood being outside at every call for Jim Pantaleano to get home first at the tune of $104.40. (Ironically, they also had two $50+ winners down the Turnpike today at Harrah’s Philadelphia – in consecutive races.) Total $2 win payoffs added to $258.40 at Pocono on Sunday – as opposed to the combined $60.40 returned during the Sun Stakes Saturday elims at the mountain oval the night previous.

(PHHA / Pocono)