The Encore Encore mare Striking Encore, who got caught late in the same class last week, made amends on the Tuesday afternoon (August 4) card at a soggy The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, as she controlled the pace for a 1:56.2 victory in the $12,800 featured trot.

George Napolitano Jr. had few anxious moments with Striking Encore, who has now won three times in five starts since she joined up with trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera and owner Gilbert Garcia-Owen.

There was a quartet of $10,400 contests for two-year-olds, one for each sex at both gaits. On the trot, both winners posted 1:58.2 victories in the sloppy going: the Muscle Hill–Possessed By Lindy colt Lindysmusclemania, who won his debut for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Åke Svanstedt, and Stall Droad AB; and the Explosive Matter–Miss Michelle filly Above The Clouds, who missed her mark by one fifth of a second while triumphing for driver Corey Callahan, trainer John Butenschoen, and Bay Pond Racing Stable.

Among the juvenile pacers, the Somebeachsomewhere–Lindys Nightmare filly Lindy At The Beach remained undefeated in three purse starts, as she was brushed to the lead in front of the stands by driver Scott Zeron and maintained the advantage to the wire in 1:56.2 with a :28.1 final quarter. The Domenico Cecere-trained miss is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut.

Zeron used similar tactics with the Captaintreacherous–Code One Hanover colt Crunch Hanover to notch a 1:53.1 victory – brush to the lead in front of the stands and stay clear of the closers. Crunch Hanover now has two overnight wins and a second and a third in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on his record for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Enviro Stables Ltd., South Mountain Stables, R-And-I Farms LLC , and The Bay’s Stable LLC.

(PHHA / Pocono)