Harness racing returned to the eastern side of Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning, as The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono held the first of its three qualifying sessions prior to the track’s 2019 opening night (Saturday, March 16).
With the track crew doing their usual excellent job of working with a track that had seen much snow in recent days, the surface was rated ‘fast’ and a two-second allowance in time was given. The temperature during the session was 19 degrees Fahrenheit.
The fastest of the five morning miles was recorded by the Western Ideal gelding Busboy Hanover. He popped outside down the backstretch, went up to challenge the new leader, Make It Big, and then drew clear of to win in 1:56.2 for driver Anthony Napolitano and trainer Bucky Angle Jr.
Bill ‘Moon’ Mullin,” a three-time Pocono training champion, combined with driver Tyler Buter for two tallies: with the Muscles Yankee trotting mare Casino Cutie IT, wire-to-wire in 2:00, and with Paprike Blue Chip, an altered pacing son of Roll With Joe, who was a pocket rocket in 1:57.1.
Another three-time Pocono conditioners’ crownwinner, Steve Salerno, harnessed the first winner of the day, the Somebeachsomewhere pacing mare Attention Hanover, who was guided to victory by Eric Carlson in 1:57.2. Todd Schadel, 2018 North American UDR champion in the 300-499 category, won the other event as a trainer. He had tapped Tom Jackson to handle the 11-year-old Cantab Hanover trotter Buffalino Hanover, who posted a head triumph in 2:00.1.
The draw for the track’s opening card will be conducted on Monday, March 11. Pocono will race on Saturday and Tuesday (19) its first week, add Sundays the following week, and then settle into its Saturday-through-Tuesday basic schedule the week of March 30-April 2. Post time will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and then 4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday to take advantage of the ‘simulcast bridge’ hours.
Qualifiers will be held at Pocono on Thursday and then on Wednesday 13, just before a press conference welcoming the media back to ‘the Downs’ for the 2019 meeting.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)