Endostory and Congressional slugged it out most of the length of the stretch in the $29,167 conditioned pacing feature on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and it was Endofstory who provided his backers the conclusion they wanted, getting a nose victory in 1:50.3.

Congressional is one of the fastest horses leaving the gate around, and George Napolitano Jr. let him get to the lead around Endofstory, who then slid out past the :26.2 quarter to take charge and got a breather to a :55.4 half. Soon after the 1:23 three-quarters, these two left the rest of their opposition in their wake, and then Congressional ducked into the Pocono Pike for his late challenge. The two even-money co-favourites went at each other with all the courage they could summon, with Endofstory getting this decision for trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. and the ownership of David Linker, Brian Loman, Robert Venable and Kyle Warren. Banderas (Tyler Buter) finished third. Endofstory, a five-year-old son of Lazarus N-Olivette Hanover, recorded his 19th career victory in 56 starts. He paid $4.20 to win.

Many of the paths to the winners circle went through driver Brett Beckwith, who had five wins on the 14-race card, for five different trainers. In the $22,222 sub-featured fast-class conditioned pace, trainer Deborah Daguet and the Alta Christiano-Alinghi gelding Boom N ($10.60) benefitted from the young star’s sulky mastery, as Beckwith used a quarter-move as the basic winning tactic in a 1:50 mile, which set a new mark for the 10-year-old despite his 35-day absence. Boom N’s ownership is shared by Donald MacRae and Stephen Klunowski along with J.R. Ryan and Collin Ryan.

Neither of the fast-class miles produced the swiftest of the day’s clockings, however; that honour went to the Captaintreacherous-Sweet Lucy Lou sophomore gelding Treacherous Lou ($3.40), whom Beckwith guided to a new mark of 1:49.2 for trainer Robert Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc.

Beckwith also won with Stag Party ($3.20), Simon Says Hanover ($4.80) and Gannons Veloucity ($4.40). The leading driver at The Meadowlands is 298-for-1,324 overall this year.

For the developing classes, there were two $24,306 conditioned events. The one for pacing males was captured by the four-year-old Courtly Choice-Ashlees Spitfire gelding Courts On Fire ($4.20), who tallied in 1:50.3 for meet leaders Tyler Buter and Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Knox Services Inc.

Burke tripled on the day, also reaching the winner's circle with Gannons Veloucity ($4.40) and Solid Character ($2.40), the latter of whom was also driven by Buter. The trainer once again leads North America this year with 636 wins from 3,310 starts.

The event for up-and-coming trotters went back to the pattern of monster-priced winners that figured in so many races this past week. The five-year-old Bar Hopping-Heythergeorgiegirl gelding Heytherbartender didn’t pay $100+, but he came pretty close at $82.60, and he was followed by 82-1, 66-1 and 7-1 shots in the 1:53.4 mile as the two favourites broke before the quarter, generating a Superfecta carryover. The count for carryovers during the last four days is now 13, including the one into Monday’s Pick 5 wager.

Trainer Herb Lux III had two wins, with Buter and Beckwith driving one each.

Monday will be a huge day at Pocono. Not only will there be a 1 p.m. stakes-laden live card featuring Pennsylvania-sired two-year-old trotting fillies, but it will also be draw day for the highlight of the Pocono season, the $2.3 million Sun Stakes Saturday card for the very best three-year-olds and free-for-allers. The card will take place on Saturday, Aug. 23, starting at a special post time of 2:30 p.m.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono)