Delicious, Blokbuster Hanover, McSauna, and Shady Breeze each won a final of the inaugural Equinox Late Closer Series for two-year-olds on Friday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
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The races, which were for freshman pacers and trotters who are owned or sired in Pennsylvania, each carried a purse of $40,000.
Delicious started the action off with an overpowering, nine-length victory as the heavy favourite in the trotting fillies group. Matt Kakaley sent her first-over past the helpless field on the backstretch, and the filly from the Ron Gurfein barn coasted to a win in 1:55, just two-fifths of a second off the Pocono track record for her age group. Playwear Hanover was a distant second while Arent I Hanover captured the show.
Kakaley was at it again in the trotting colts and geldings, although this time with a much less likely candidate. Blokbuster Hanover, who came into the final winless in four starts and had broken stride in his previous two, went gate-to-wire to score a mild upset. Trained by Richard Johnson, the gelding won by one and a half lengths over On The Podium in 1:58.4. Donatello finished third.
In the pacing fillies division, McSauna relentlessly pursued first-over before finally prevailing by two lengths. Andrew McCarthy did the driving for trainer Scott DiDomenico, as the filly scored in 1:53. Love You Bye came on for second while Campanile, who set the pace, faded to third.
Shady Breeze closed out the Equinox action with a gutty, front-running effort in the pacing colts and geldings split. Driver Mike Simons sent him to the front, which was a change of tactics for the ridgling from the barn of trainer Judith Welty, but it paid off with a one-length win in a career-best 1:52.3. Lindwood Player picked up the place while favourite Wahine settled for the show.
(Pocono Downs)