Two AM won his second consecutive race at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Sunday evening, overcoming the outside post eight to capture the $21,500 featured trot on the card in 1:52.4.
Driver Tyler Buter tucked in midpack early with the altered son of Muscle Massive, then raced the last half with second-over cover. Two AM then put in a big late surge to defeat favoured Prairie Fortune, who was coming on from the pocket, by three-quarters of a length, with ABC Muscles Boy another neck back after a third-inside trip.
Two AM, who made an early name for himself by winning his PA Stallion Series Championship in 2016 in a still-record 1:55.3, boosted his lifetime bankroll to $287,936 with Sunday’s triumph. Todd Buter conditions the winner for the Gene Oldford Farms LLC, Lynette Buter, William Fuhs, and Carol Fuhs.
Driver Jim Taggart Jr. claimed possession of the outright lead in both categories of the “Leading Longshot Driver at Pocono” chase by reining Raising Kerckhaert to victory in the sophomore’s 23rd lifetime start while paying $101.40 for a $2 win ticket.
Taggart, who was Pocono’s overall winningest driver during the 2001 season, now has six winners at the 2018 meet who have paid $50+, and a pair who topped the $100 figure. Raising Kerckhaert’s trainer/owner Austin Brubacker also has his claim to $100 winner fame -- in 2016 at Harrah’s, his trainee Marion Coca paid over triple figures to win three times during the year, including in successive weeks in late summer.
(PHHA / Pocono)