A trio of $15,000 conditioned features for developing horses highlighted the first Sunday evening (April 2) card of the season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
In the feature division for pacing mares, the Heston Blue Chip sophomore filly Romantic Evening was ready in her second start of the campaign, grinding to the lead at the three-quarter pole and going on to reduce her mark a tick to 1:52.2. Tyler Buter drove the "Nifty" Norman trainee for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC.
In the companion event for pacing males, Comet Crusader N (pictured above) took full advantage of starting from the rail, working out a pocket trip for driver Anthony Napolitano and rallying inside to lower his mark to 1:52.3. Mike Deters trains the winning son of Betting Line, and he shares ownership of him with Joel Warner, John Manning and John Spindler.
The trotting event for the up-and-coming set saw the 35-1 shot Zette Flame make a big move nearing the far turn and went on to catch the 1-9 pacesetter Bright Side Up late while taking a mark of 1:55.1. The son of Love You was driven by Matt Kakaley for owner-trainer Cozette McAvoy.
There was also a $14,500 fast-class event for pacing mares, in which the team of driver Anthony Napolitano and trainer Mike Deters again took the big end of a purse after a pocket trip, winning with Prairie Westerngal in 1:52.3. The daughter of Western Ideal pushed her earnings to $318,474 for the ownership of Deters, Joel Warner and Patricia Fritz.
Monday’s 1 p.m. (EDT) card will feature three $9,000 divisions of the first preliminary in a Game Of Claims Series for pacers with a base price of $10,000. The Pocono week expands to four cards a week on Tuesday, with a Game Of Claims event for $25,000 base-priced trotters going in five $20,000 divisions of the initial prelim.
(PHHA / Pocono)