The sophomore Big Jim colt Bronx Seelster, fresh off racing in the Breeders Crown, went to the top against mostly older foes in the $17,500 feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs Saturday night, Nov. 2, then responded gamely to post a 1:50.3 victory.
Driver Simon Allard, who had three victories on the night, hustled the sophomore to the top before the :26.2 first quarter, then got him to the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:23.2 without too much pressure. In the stretch Twin B Tuffenuff ducked in from the pocket to the Pocono Pike and menaced midstretch, but Bronx Seelster dug in and held a neck advantage at the wire. The pacer is now campaigned by Allard Racing Inc., Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Dr. Stephen Klunowski, who acquired him before his Breeders Crown elimination.
Bronx Seelster is trained by Rene Allard, who was recognized during the card for being the winningest trainer at Pocono in 2019, a feat which now gives him six of the last seven local titles. The 32-year-old native of Quebec ranks third among North American trainers in the seasonal victory category.
Keystone Steam joined an early-forming two-wide tier, went three wide up the backstretch and went two wide on the far turn, then downed pacesetting Toms Arockin in 1:51.3 in the $16,000 claiming handicap pace co-feature. The gelded son of Bettors Delight, who won by a half length, got the job done for trainer James Guagliardo, owner Steven Cetinsky, and driver George Napolitano Jr., who also won with Pocono’s Pacer of the Year Atta Boy Dan on the card among his five wins on the night.
The Great Britain-bred Hasty Hall gelding Matticulous GB remained undefeated in three starts on this side of the Atlantic and took his lifetime record to 21-17-4-0 with a 1:51.1 victory in a $14,000 pace. Matt Kakaley put the Ron Burke trainee, owned by Brett Thompson, on the lead going to the quarter and was unstoppable–literally: after coming home in :27, Matticulous GB and Kakaley “came back” and sailed right past the winner's circle and in the general direction of the paddock.
Pocono now will next race on Tuesday, Nov. 5 as the track will alternate Saturday and Tuesday programs until the meet’s closing night of Saturday, Nov. 16.
(PHHA/Pocono)