The Hazelton pushed hard early to protect the pocket behind favourite Inquisitive Dan, then came up the Pocono Pike to catch the leader and win the $18,750 featured trot in 1:54 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday, May 31.

There were five horses looking for position off the gate, but the early duel boiled down to The Hazelton, who started from the rail, and Inquisitive Dan (Jim Pantaleano), who took the throttle off the first turn and was responsible for fractions of :27.4, :56.4, and 1:25.1. The Hazelton, a Muscle Mass-Too Good For You gelding coming to Pocono from Yonkers, enjoyed his ride in the golden seat, then was directed inside by driver Tyler Buter and worked by the leader by 1-1/4 lengths for the victory. Inquistive Dan held second over Whiskey Peddler (Ridge Warren).

The Hazelton is trained by Ron Burke, who also won a division of the feature at Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday, and owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The six-year-old gelding is now 24-for-86 lifetime. He paid $10.40 to win.

The Hazelton was the second betting choice, which was little surprise (he won at Yonkers two starts back), but Buter and Burke also combined for the biggest-priced winner of the program, the $30.40 chance Ok My Way. The Pocono leading driver and the winningest trainer in North America are still respectively the leading driver and trainer of $50+ horses at the meet.

Buter and Burke were among the horseperson doublers on the 10-race card. That group also included driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainers Peter Pellegrino and Veronica Spicer.

The card was the first of nine Sunday twilight cards to be raced every week through the end of July at Pocono. Monday’s 1 p.m. program will be topped by a $27,500 USD Mares Winners Over Handicap Pace. There will also be the start of a new Game Of Claims Series, with three first-leg divisions of horses base-tagged for $15,000 USD racing for an $11,000 USD purse. The card will also feature a carryover into the fifth-race Pick 5 wager.

(PHHA/Pocono)