After racing at Monticello, Yonkers, and Saratoga already in 2026, Turn The Page N was on the road again on Monday, March 2 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, taking the big end of the purse in the $37,671 fast-class handicap pace for mares.
Driver Ron Cushing, who co-owns the Heidi Cushing trainee with Kevin Sywyk, was content to sit with his seven-year-old mare in the pocket behind pacesetter My Red Sea (Colin Kelly) through mild fractions of :27, :56 and 1:24.2 on a chilly day. He then ducked Turn The Page N to the Pocono Pike and the daughter of Vincent-Sheza Monkee outpaced her opposition home, winning in 1:53.2. Dandys Mercy (Tyler Buter) skimmed the far inside of the course to take second with Lydeo (Anthony Napolitano) third, a length back of the 40 per cent career winner (24 victories in 60 starts).
The clocking was a little faster, 1:52.2, in the $23,973 pacing co-feature for developing distaffs, with the winner another New Zealand import who loves to get home first, the five-year-old Johny Rock-Fun Sponge mare Raspalia N, now victorious seven times in 16 lifetime trips behind the gate.
Driver Lauren Tritton was determined to make the lead despite the outside post seven, and she and her charge had to cover a good bit of extra real estate, well beyond a :27 quarter, before hitting the top, whereupon she continued on to middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:22.3. Raspalia N had enough in reverse to keep the pocket-sitting Loot (George Napolitano Jr.), the longest shot in the race, 1-3/4 lengths behind her to the wire, keeping her North American record perfect after three starts for trainer Agostino Abbatiello and owner Durazzano Stable of Pine Bush, New York.
If the weather does not force a change in plans, Pocono will close out its racing week on Tuesday, March 3 at 1 p.m., with a pair of $15,500 USD contests for up-and-coming trotters in the spotlight.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)