The two-year-olds were in the spotlight on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with a $22,857 event for each freshman group divided by gait and sex.

The Sweet Lou-Horizon gelding Somehriznsomewhere ($14.80) broke his maiden in fine style as he dictated the tempo then came home in :27.4 to hold off the stalking favourite Crunchstyle (Ridge Warren) by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4 in the freshman contest for male pacers. Big Crunch (Tyler Buter) was third. George Napolitano Jr. handled the winner's sulky duties for trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of The Summer Wind Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Craig Henderson and Robert Mondillo.

In the pacing filly split, Pillow Play ($7.20), a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Angels Pride who showed a 1:51.1 victory in Kentucky in August, came to Pennsylvania and defeated her main rival, Happy Papi, with a decisive 2-1/4-length victory in 1:53.1. Pillow Play moved to the lead in front of the stands the first time around, ahead of Happy Papi (Tyler Buter), then stayed ahead of that rival with a :28 last quarter in an impressive win for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Scott Di Domenico, and owners Triple D Stables Inc., Michael Rekoon and Steve Stewart. Gigi N Miki (Jim Pantaleano) completed the top three.

On the trotting side, the males’ event was taken by the Greenshoe-Donna Hill gelding Green To Go ($7.40), who followed up on a win in a Keystone Classic event in his last start with a 1:57.1 victory. Tyler Buter tucked the winner in third early, inherited the pocket as the leader broke down the backstretch, then moved the baby nearing the far turn to be in front at headstretch. Green To Go then kept favoured Capt Osborne (Matt Kakaley) at bay by a length for trainer-owner D. R. Ackerman. Bigmanballin (Braxten Boyd) was third.

The filly trotters were headed by Sister Lise ($27.40), a daughter of Father Patrick-Checkmate Time. She tucked early then found clearance between horses late for driver Donald Dupont and won in 1:57.4 in a race in which the top five were separated only by 1-1/2 lengths. Trainer Marie Dupont is also the owner of Sister Lise, who was a half-length ahead at the line. Pineys Last Love (Anthony Napolitano) closed for place, with Dream Venere (Simon Allard) also rallying and taking third.

Tyler Buter had three winners when he was scheduled to leave for Yonkers Raceway after Race 10, but an Åke Svanstedt trainee needed a late driver switch in Race 11. Buter got it, and he left for Gotham with four wins for the day already in the bag. Matt Kakaley and George Napolitano Jr. each had two sulky successes on the card – if Buter retains his current lead, these three drivers will have collectively won the last 17 dash titles at Pocono.

Racing returns to the mountain oval on Saturday at 1 p.m., with fast-class pacers filling the marquee spots.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono; photo of Somehriznsomewhere winning on Oct. 6)