Rich And Miserable, the 2019 Trotter of the Year at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, zipped to the lead at the three-quarter pole in the $14,000 trotting feature at the mountain oval on Saturday afternoon, drawing off to a 5-1/2 length victory in 1:53.
Tyler Buter was in his usual perch behind the Explosive Matter gelding, a career winner of 21 of 59 starts and $438,586 for trainer Todd Buter and the ownership of Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs. That same grouping won two races earlier with Two AM, a Muscle Massive gelding who win in 1:55 to raise his lifetime numbers to 32 of 94 and $486,905.
In the $12,800 claiming handicap pacing headliner, the United Ace gelding Just N Ace paid immediate dividends for owner William Gordon and trainer James Guagliardo, who took the horse for $20,000 last week, stepped him up to the $25,000 level, and won his third straight in 1:53.2 when the track was rated “good” early in the card. Driver Larry Stalbaum never looked back with the streaking pacer, winning by a length despite pressure at many points in the mile.
Former HHI Man of the Year and longtime USTA director Lon Frocione passed away this past Wednesday at age 88, and trainer Joe Pavia Jr. gave a proper sendoff to his longtime patron by sending out his Sweet Lou gelding Lyons Night Hawk, who rattled off fast numbers of :27.1, :54.1, and 1:22 en route to a 1:50.2 triumph, boosting his earnings to $260,158 while being driven by George Napolitano Jr.
Tyler Buter and George Napolitano Jr. both paraded back to the winner's circle four times during the Saturday card at Pocono, whose last Sunday night card of 2020 will begin tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
(PHHA / Pocono)