The star-crossed racehorse and prolific stallion Walner sired both three-year-old trotting colts who won the $15,000 featured events on Tuesday (October 18) afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The faster of the two features charted in 1:55 by Kens Walner, who came to Pocono off a recent win at The Meadowlands and success in Kentucky stakes. Tyler Buter, who with Marcus Miller topped the Tuesday drivers colony with four sulky successes, guided the chalk to controlling position before a :28.1 opener. Buter then rated the half to :58, getting an extended challenge from close second choice Hand Dover Dan (Anthony Napolitano) through and past a 1:26.2 three-quarters. Try as he might, Hand Dover Dan could not catch Kens Walner and in midstretch, he went to a break. Hand Dover Dan was placed from second to third as 60-1 shot TNT Blue Chip (Braxten Boyd) was lapped on him at the wire. Noel Daley trains the winner for owner Ken Jacobs.
In the other division, favoured Street Smarts kept his early lead to the wire in a 1:57.4 success. Matt Kakaley, the meet’s top driver, guided the sophomore to the point nearing the :29.2 quarter, got soft middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.1, then held off late challengers to both sides, with Awsome Paul (Tom Jackson) to his right a half-length behind at the finish and Pocono Pike-shooting Heart Matters (Todd Schadel) a nose behind the second horse. Street Smarts races for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.
Five different trainers sent out two winners Tuesday: Tom Cancelliere, Bruce Clarke, Noel Daley, Nifty Norman, and Darren Taneyhill.
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. with a $17,500 contest on each gait topping a highly-competitive card. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)