Sky McFly dominated on the front end to defeat a group of $25,000 claimers and kick off the 2015 racing season on Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The race, the first of the night and the meet, carried a purse of $16,000.
Driven by Matt Kakaley for the Ron Burke barn, Sky McFly (Jeremes Jet-Nvincible) took over around the first turn and never faced a serious challenge from that point. The six-year-old gelding, a 2-5 favourite, scored in 1:52.1 by two and a quarter lengths over Top Gear in second and To Beach His Own in third.
This year promises to be a special one at Pocono, as it’s the 50th racing campaign for the venerable track in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The track opened in August of 1965.
In other opening night action at Pocono, three $15,000 divisions of the Bobby Weiss Series for three and four-year-old colts and geldings on the pace were held. The winners were: Shadow Margeaux (Shadow Play-Joyeux), a 37-1 longshot driven by Larry Stalbaum and trained by Steve Salerno, in 1:52.4; Mojito Hanover (Well Said-Mary Mattgalane), driven by Marcus Miller and trained by Jim Campbell, in 1:53.1; and Victory At Last (Quik Pulse Mindale-Bidforakiss), driven by Matt Kakaley and trained by Ron Burke, in 1:52.4.
In the night’s $22,000 featured condition pace, Blatantly Best (Cambest-Garish), driven by Jim Morrill Jr. and trained by Larry Remmen, came on late to win in 1:51.3.
(The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono)