Drop Red, piloted by Joe Pavia Jr. and trained by Robert Horowitz, made it two straight wins in $24,000 Open Handicap Pace company Saturday evening at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
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Pavia Jr. was first up before the half with Drop Red as Presidential Order (George Napolitano Jr.) was the front runner. The latter pacer took the seven-horse field to opening panel in :27.1, half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23 with Drop Red lurking on the outside.
Drop Red won by just a neck over second-over Vlos (Tom Jackson) with Presidential Order back to third. This mile went in 1:50.3 for the four-year-old Red River Hanover stallion.
This was the fifth win in 21 starts this season for Drop Red.
Two CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series trots were held earlier on the 12-race card with the winners being PA Plates and Winterleebrook.
PA Plates, driven by David Yarock and trained by Jodie Doherty, stopped the timer in 2:01.1. Admirable Hanover (Peter Gerry) was second to PA Plates with third-place going to Garlands Brat (David Ehrenberg II).
Seventeen-year-old Joey Bongiorno drove Winterleebrook to a new life mark of 1:57.4. Double Strength (David Offenberg) was second in this race while the third-place finisher was Civil Cause (Don Hoover). Bongiorno now has won four of 10 starts this season with one second and two third-place finishes.
(Pocono Downs)