Driver Kasper Foget was determined to make the lead with the Chapter Seven sophomore colt Distance Learning in the $15,000 featured trot on a warm Tuesday afternoon (October 25) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and his persistence paid off once the three-year-old got to the top then held on to win in 1:55.3.
Awsome Paul stepped around Street Smarts early, then carried Distance Learning well past a :28 quarter before yielding the front. Foget backed off the half to :58.3, then braced for challenges from two outside rivals. The second choice Street Smarts was coming back for more as he went past a 1:26.3 three-quarters with favoured Hand Dover Dan right behind him and then, went three-wide late on the far turn.
But neither rival proved the equal of Distance Learning late, with Street Smarts 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner and Hand Dover Dan an equal distance behind the second horse. Per Engblom trains the winner, who has won four of five races since adding trotting hopples, for JJ Racing Stable Inc.
Matt Kakaley had four winners on the Tuesday afternoon card and George Napolitano Jr. three as those two horsemen continued their battle for seasonal supremacy among the sulkysitters. Kakaley’s lead is now at 232-229.
Pocono is racing on a Saturday-Monday-Tuesday schedule, with post time for the three cards at 1:30 p.m. each racing program. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)