The Greenshoe-Sensibility sophomore gelding Sensational, coming to Pocono after stops at Plainridge and Lexington, combined his principal two traits as of late – impressive speed and going off-stride – and managed to rally to a dramatic 1:56.4 victory in one of two $21,831 featured conditioned trots on Tuesday, Oct. 14 over a going rated good in cool temperatures.
Matt Kakaley, driving for trainer George Ducharme and co-owners George Ducharme Stable LLC and W. J. Donovan, had eased Sensational away from the gate and was looking to spot him fifth before the quarter in :28.2 when the three-year-old broke stride. Kalaley got Sensational back on gait by the bottom of the turn, then summoned speed from the gelding, and the youngster went from the back of the field to the lead before the half in :58.4.
After that, no one posed a threat to the winner, who carved out three-quarters in 1:28 and went three lengths clear of Non Disclosure (Ridge Warren) at the finish after trotting his own last split in :28.4. Evans Per Fect War (Simon Allard) was third. The winner is now four-for-15 lifetime with $62,798 in earnings. He paid $2.60 to win.
In the other feature, the Archangel-Armatrading gelding Stevie Ray did not have quite as adventurous of a trip as Sensational, but driver Jim Pantaleano had to be alert to help the trotter find the winning journey in a 2:00 mile. Stevie Ray made the lead before a :29.4 quarter, yielded for the pocket through the half in 1:01, then had to back out into the two-wide flow as the outer tier threatened the pacesetter past three-quarters in 1:30.3. Swinging wide in the lane, Stevie Ray went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Counter Spy (Jim Marohn Jr.). Amilyn Holdo (Warren) completed the ticket.
The five-year-old Stevie Ray has won four of 43 lifetime outings and has racked up $79,526 in bankroll. He is one-for-15 this season for trainer David Hoover and owner Jaypaul Hoover. The win price was $4.20.
George Napolitano Jr. led the driver colony with three wins, including two for trainer Jill Roland; Matt Kakaley, Anthony Napolitano, and Jack Pelling had driving doubles. Along with conditioning co-feature winner Stevie Ray, David Hoover drove another of his trainees to victory, joining Roland as a doubler.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday with a 1 p.m. card. There will be a carryover into the first-race Superfecta pool and the last-race High 5 pool. Monday’s and Tuesday’s cards will feature a pair of John Simpson Sr. Memorial Stakes on each day.
(PHHA/Pocono)