Uncle Hanover had a big closing kick to get past a gallant pacesetting Watkins by a hald-length to win the $20,000 featured trot on Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:56.2 in 'good going' on a cool night.
Watkins was hung out three-wide early and did not make the lead until continuing two-wide well past a :27.4 quarter, then got a relative breather to the :57.1 half and until shortly before the 1:26.2 three-quarters, when first-over Military Blue launched a huge challenging bid, with Uncle Hanover backing off the rail to tail the brusher. The victorious Muscle Hill gelding tipped wide in the stretch and was hustled home by driver Jim Marohn Jr. to overhaul the tough Watkins late, boosting his lifetime earnings to $96,017 for trainer D.R. Ackerman and the Doug Ackerman Racing Stables Inc.
In the $18,000 featured pace, Tyler The Terror overcame a first-over trip and a 12-1 betting forecast to hold off the late charge of favoured Manny by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:52.4 for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and owner Gregory Gardner, with pacesetter Perfect Bet third, a half-length behind Manny. The Western Terror gelding gave trainer Amy Eubanks, who has campaigned mostly in Ohio, her first visit to the Pocono winner's circle.
The first six races were divided equally among three drivers: George Napolitano, who entered the night with 8,089 career victories; Marcus Miller, who had 2,591; and Christian Lind – who had three. But don’t count on the 25-year-old not getting many more wins, and soon, as he has an 18 percent win rate in this, his first year of driving, and at Pocono Sunday won back-to-back races with pupils of his father Staffan, the trotter Promise Delivered and the pacer Mr Ds Dragon.
(PHHA / Pocono)