The 2017 racing season opened at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday night, delayed from Saturday night by last midweek’s two-foot snowstorm that hit the mountain oval.
You don’t see many five-foot-high stacks of snow in the infield on the Pennsylvania fair circuit, but the Western Terror gelding Star Of Terror, last year’s leading 2:00 producer at the PA fairs with five magic miles, showed his ability in colder weather as well by taking the inaugural event, a $14,000 conditioned pace, in a lifetime best 1:54.3. Driver Jim Morrill Jr. tucked then had to go first-over with Star Of Terror with race favourite Iminurblindspot right on his back, but he kept his charge alive late to win by a head for trainer Brewer Adams, in his second start with the horse, and Fortunate One LLC.
In the companion $14,000 trot, Artic Clipper posted his second straight victory -- and overcame a gap of 146 days between those races. He won his 2016 finale on October 30, and he won Tuesday, overhauling pacesetter Marion Gondolier after being in tight quarters with that one in early stretch taking a three-quarter length tally and posting a new speed mark of 1:58. Marcus Miller handled sulky chores behind the Yankee Glide colt for trainer Jill Roland and owners Anthony Risi and Bernard O’Brien.
More-seasoned conditioned performers had a race at each gait for $12,500 later in the card. Xtatic Hanover, coming off by far his best year at age six, took his first win in his seven-year-old form, tallying in 1:55.3. All-time leading Pocono driver George Napolitano Jr., in his first win of the year over the red track, used atypical off-the-pace tactics but they fit the winning SJs Caviar gelding perfectly as he closed strongly to win going away for trainer Matias Ruiz and A Piece Of The Action LLC.
In the $12,500 event for pacing mares, the Western Paradise mare Lovineveryminute boosted her career earnings over the $200,000 plateau with a 1:53 win for trainer Daniel Renaud and owners Brian and Ira Wallach. Lovineveryminute was tipped wide from second-over at headstretch by driver Vinnie Ginsburg, and the pair ate up ground through the lane to get the decision by a neck over hard-used pacesetter Threedee Delight A.
Simon Allard took the early lead in the 2017 drivers derby, bringing home three horses to Victory Lane.
(with files from PHHA/Pocono)