Modern Family parlayed a pocket trip into a late-kicking victory in the Preferred Handicap featured trot on Opening Night Saturday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried the night’s top purse of $25,000.
Leaving from post position No. 7 in a field of nine as the 4-5 favourite, Modern Family was sent to the front end early by driver/trainer Daryl Bier before ceding the lead in the front stretch to Daylon Magician. That pair stayed in the top two spots until the stretch, when Modern Family pounced to beat Daylon Magician by a length in 1:52.1. Daylon Magician's younger half-sister, Daylon Miracle, finished third.
Modern Family, a five-year-old stallion owned by Bier, Charles Dombeck, and Rich Poillucci, had won his previous start at The Meadowlands and now has three wins in his first seven races of the year. Tonight's victory was his 16th lifetime and pushed his career earnings to $326,199.
On the pacing side, the night’s top performance was turned in by Eighteen. Trained by Mark Ford and driven by Mark MacDonald, Eighteen won a condition pace in the night’s fastest time of 1:49.3.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs kicked off its season with 14 races. Racing in the early part of the season at the track takes place on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights with first post on those evenings at 6:30 p.m. ET.
(With files from Pocono Downs)