Da Delightful just caught Western Joe in a stretch thriller on Saturday afternoon (May 28) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning in 1:50 over a “good” track in the $17,500 pacing headliner.

Da Delightful took over from Ultimaroca before the :26.2 quarter. Favoured Western Joe, who was spotted in third early, then moved to the lead in front of the stands, got to the half in :54.3 and rolled to three-quarters in 1:21.4, burning off all the outside opposition.

Turning for home, Western Joe was joined by Da Delightful, and the two battled hard through the lane, with the pocket-sitting son of Bettors Delight just edging the pacesetter by a nose. Da Delightful was driven by Marcus Miller for trainer-owner Mark Silva.

Despite being on the losing side of the photo, Western Joe still had a good day, becoming the sport’s newest millionaire – the second-place check nudged his career earnings to $1,000,123 for owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies.

There also was a $17,500 event for the trotters, and in it the Trixton gelding Toccoa Falls posted his second-straight win since coming to Pocono, winning by three-quarters of a length over Robbie Pev in 1:54.2, also over a “good” going. Toccoa Falls had to overcome the difficult tuck-then-first-over route, but he proved equal to the challenge in a game outing for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Per Engblom, and owners Evan Katz and Frank Canzone.

Go West Go Fast was claimed for the fifth-straight start for the Pocono-record price of $40,000. However, here he got parked through vicious fractions and faded, with the winner the second choice Rogerthat Bluechip – a 1:51.3 winner Saturday – he is still the fastest pacer of the season at Pocono with his 1:49.2 victory on May 14. Rogerthat Bluechip will also go to a new home after he was haltered for $38,000.

Jim Pantaleano guided four winners home on the Saturday card.

Distaff pacers will be in the spotlight during Sunday’s 5 p.m. twilight performance. Last year’s Stallion Series champion Odds On Whitney will make her four-year-old debut in the $17,000 featured class, with the $14,500 sub-feature for fast-class females looks to be a wide-open affair. On Memorial Day Monday, the three-year-old pacing colts will be at the mountain oval for the second prelim of their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition. Program pages are available at the PHHA website.     

(PHHA / Pocono)