A pair of $23,288 conditioned races for developing horses headed the Saturday, June 28 card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with Rio winning the top pace and Tenforthebigguy victorious in the featured trot.

Rio closed well after an argued early pace (:26.2, :53.3, 1:21.1) to catch the leading Lous Starr (Matt Kakaley) by a half-length in the lead pacing contest, taking a new mark of 1:49. Sweethomealabama N (Anthony Napolitano) finished third. Braxten Boyd engineered an 11-1 upset with Rio ($25.60), a son of Sweet Lou-Amora Hanover, who is trained by Tee Wine for owner Jack Piatt III. The four-year-old gelding is now six-for-19 this year.

The Southwind Frank-Sand Lavender Blu gelding Tenforthebigguy sat in the two-hole behind Kinnder Thinktwice though fractions of :28, :57.3, and 1:25, then moved out in the lane and caught the pacesetter by a half-length, with the final time of 1:54 just a tick off his lifetime mark. Spending Crazy (Tyler Buter) was third. George Napolitano Jr. had the sulky duty behind the favoured Tenforthebigguy ($6.60) for trainer Scot Davidson and owner Randy's Lawn Care. The five-year-old earned his seventh win of the year in 14 tries.

The top conditioned fast-class pace, going for $22,603, also went to a pocket rocket as the Somebeachsomewhere-Higher And Higher gelding South Beach Star sat in closest proximity to the favoured pacesetter Hazeville's fractions of :26.1, :54, and 1:20.4, then outpaced the leader home by a length in a lifetime best-equalling 1:48.1. Southwind Gendry (Buter) completed the ticket. South Beach Star ($21.80), now successful in four of nine yearly appearances, was driven by Boyd (another longshot winner for the driver, this one at 9-1) for trainer Mark Silva and All Star Racing Inc. (A third sub-1:50 was turned in on the card by 1:49.1 winner Rockin Jukebox.)

Tyler Buter, Pocono's leading driver, brought home three winners to lead the driving colony. Braxten Boyd, George Napolitano Jr., and Ridge Warren each steered two winners. Saturday's 12 winners were conditioned by 12 different trainers.

Pocono will be racing on Sunday at 6 p.m., when there will be a carryover into the last race High 5 pool, and then stage Monday and Tuesday programs at 1 p.m.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono)