Dancing Lew, dismissed at 18-1 despite a third and a fourth in the same class since coming from Tioga Downs, went wire-to-wire in the $20,946 featured claiming handicap pace on Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, nosing out the potential pocket rocket, Oakwoodnitownit IR, in 1:52.4 as the temperatures clearly reflected the oncoming of fall.

Ridge Warren hustled the altered son of A Rocknroll Dance to the lead fairly easily despite post seven and the pair put up fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:24.3. Expected challenges from horses in the wide tiers failed to materialize, but Oakwoodnitwnit IR surged in the Pocono Pike nearing the wire, with the Edgar Clarke-trained Dancing Lew winning by the slimmest of margins for owner William Emmons.

In a $20,270 trot for developing horses, the Cantab Hall three-year-old gelding Breezy Hall ran his winning streak to three with an easy victory in 1:55.4, unfazed from having to go first-over. Philip Scott Sonsteby trains the winner and his Philip Scott Racing Stable co-owns him with Bay Pond Racing Stable.

Breezy Hall was handled by Matt Kakaley in his last drive of the day at Pocono, bringing his win total to six after taking the first three races on the card as well while solidifying his perch atop the local sulky colony. Ridge Warren had a fine day with four winning drives, sweeping the Late Double after Kakaley accounted for the Early Double. Also getting a mention in this “horsepeople with accomplishments” section is trainer Cher Beaudin, who has sent out only a handful of horses since starting out at Sudbury Downs in 2009, harnessing her first winner, Fox Valley Ren. 

Pocono closes out its racing week on Tuesday at 1 p.m., with a $15,500 USD trot for claiming horses as the top purse event.

(PHHA / Pocono)