Alta Madeira N, close without winning since shipping to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finally made her local breakthrough during the Sunday (April 24) card, taking a mark of 1:52.2 in winning the $17,000 featured distaff pace.
Driver Jim Marohn Jr. moved the daughter of Alta Christiano N from third at the :27 quarter, taking the lead away from odds-on favourite Beach Crazy. She got a cheap half of :56.4, then increased the tempo to hit the three-quarters in 1:24.2. Through the stretch, Beach Crazy shot her through the Pocono Pike and Milieu Hanover was closing well in her 2022 debut, but Alta Madeira N prevailed to the line by three-quarters of a length over Milieu Hanover for trainer Rob Harmon and owner Michael Spaccarelli.
The track’s leading driver, Matt Kakaley, brought home four winners on Sunday, raising his local tally to 73 victories in the first 25 cards; three of his four winners came for trainer Ron Burke.
Monday’s 1:30 p.m. (EDT) card will feature two $50,000 Championships in the Bobby Weiss Series for three-year-old fillies. Silent Crossing was the only pacer to win in all three of her preliminary races, while on the trot Mimi Ocean Hanover has bounced back from a first-round break to be much the best in her last two starts. There will also be $20,000 consolation for each Weiss group. Program pages are available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)