A good helping of “pedigree” – both equine and human – helped the winners of three $22,535 events for two-year-olds at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on a cool-but-sunny afternoon on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Team Pelling – driver/son Jack and trainer/father Brett – took the two paces, one for each sex, with a stakes-placed youngster. History ($9.20), a colt by Downbytheseaside out of Balance, a full sister to millionaire two-time O’Brien winner L A Delight, showed a closing kick reminiscent of his stablemate, star sophomore filly Miss Jum Jabber, as he broke his maiden in 1:52.1 for Diamond Creek Racing. Sixth, four lengths behind, and inside at the three-quarters, History angled wide and flashed home in :27.2 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Current Events (Matt Kakaley), with Fabloulus Finney (Anthony Napolitano) third. The winner, who was third in a Kentucky Golden Rod Series event in August, is now one-for-five.

The freshman pacing filly winner for the Pellings was Gift Of Faith ($14.20), a daughter of Captaintreacherous out of Cannae Cammie and therefore a half-sister to the $2.5 million winner Test Of Faith. Gift Of Faith took over the racetrack by the quarter and stepped home in :28.2 to capture her first win from seven starts in 1:54.2 for owners David McDuffee, Paul Bordogna and Melvin Hartman. Spider Claire (Braxten Boyd) was second, 2-1/4 lengths back, followed by Heavens To Betsy (Bruce Clarke).

Another father-son duo – trainer Chris Ryder and driver Patrick – accounted for the sole trotting freshman feature, for fillies, with Andersson Hanover ($3.60), by the white-hot sire Captain Corey out of Angel Eyes Hanover, making her a half-sister to the exported $746,916 winner Ambassador Hanover. Andersson Hanover, second in her Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championship, regained the lead at the half and won in 1:57.4, now giving her three wins and three seconds in six starts for owner John McKeon Jr. A length back, Shoobie (Matt Kakaley) held second from Fitten Moisturized (Tyler Buter).

Braxten Boyd led all drivers with three victories on the 14-race card. Team Pelling, as mentioned, and Team Ryder, who also combined on an overnight winner, each had two victories. Other drivers doubling up were meet leader Tyler Buter, Anthony Napolitano (giving him eight wins in the three-day racing week) and Ridge Warren.

Pocono opens its October action on Saturday at 1 p.m., with several of the highest levels of fast-class veteran pacers being brought together.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono; photo of History winning on Sept. 29)