The sophomore gelding Saint Sebastian, sired by the late Sebastian K S, broke not only his maiden but that of his 59-year-old trainer Mahlon Martin with a 1:57.4 win at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Monday afternoon (Aug. 3) while in the process lighting the tote board to the tune of $118.60 to win.

Tom Jackson got the winner away in the two-hole, watched 2-1 shots Tuff To Be Lindy and Gerard battle until the stretch, and then went into the Pocono Pike to score a half-length victory for the LCL Stable.

Trainer Martin has only had his trainer’s license since last December, a little more than a month before Pocono had its last $100+ winner, the $171.40 bomber Ben Rockin who won on Feb. 9 (the second night of the 2020 “meet” and obviously well before the pandemic hit).

Saint Sebastian may be a good “poster boy” horse in these times–in the Catholic church, the faithful pray to Saint Sebastian to protect them in times of plague.

Two races before Martin scored his first win, driver Kevin Wallis recorded his 10,303rd career success with Sweetonthebeach, who also took advantage of a two-hole trip and the Pocono Pike to break her maiden in 1:56.3 while returning $68.60 for a $2 win wager. Emily Bost trains the winning sophomore daughter of Somebeachsomewhere for herself and co-owner Steve Salerno.

The Napolitano brothers, Anthony and George Jr., each had three victories on the card to tie for the day’s honours.

(PHHA/Pocono)