Putting aside the cooling night and 'sloppy' track at The Downs at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Monday evening, the $13,000 featured pace boiled down to a classic harness racing confrontation – a pair of horses who had been first or second in their last three starts, each against each other; the first choice and second choice; the pacesetter and the pocket sitter; and to add a local touch, two very talented brothers in the sulky.

The two horses hit the wire in virtual unison, and the photo showed that Delco Papa Bear, the second choice, and driver Anthony Napolitano had rallied from the pocket to just catch front-stepping favourite Aston Hill Dave, driven by Anthony’s brother George, by a nose on the end of the 1:52.3 mile. The Dali gelding Delco Papa Bear had gained into :55.4 – :27.4 back fractions to just get the job done over his tough foe for trainer Carmine Fusco and J M F Racing LLC while evening their recent rivalry at two triumphs apiece.

The weather turned ugly just after the first race, but the show had to go on. Fortunately, the wet weather came to the area a day after Sunday’s $1.5 million top-notch card had spotlighted Homicide Hunter setting a world record for a 1-1/4 mile trot, 2:22.2 (mile rate 1:53.4), and top three-year-olds Dorsoduro Hanover and Crystal Fashion take dramatic photo victories in their respective Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships.

(PHHA / Pocono)