Mr Ds Dragon left from the rail, went right to the lead, and “improved his position from there,” scoring an easy four and a half length victory in the $18,000 featured pace Sunday night (April 30) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Driver Christian Lind hustled the four-year-old altered son of Dragon Again right to the top and caused wholesale tucks to the :26 quarter, then backed off the half to :55.1. Mr Ds Dragon then sped his third quarter in :27 to open up a six-length lead, and cruised home well in hand to trip the timer in 1:50.1, lowering his mark two seconds and finishing only two-fifths of a second off Orillia Joe’s 1:49.4 seasonal standard at The Downs.
Miso Fast, third in the Breeders Crown last year behind Downbytheseaside and Huntsville, was the 3-5 favourite in his sophomore debut, but he couldn’t catch the whirlwind winner, although he did get second in a three-way photo over Candell (third) and Johnny Q (fourth). But tonight none of them were in the league of Mr Ds Dragon, owned by Bender Sweden Inc., Elmer Fannin, and trainer Staffan Lind, who like his son Christian posted his second win of the card; Team Lind would then take a later race to wrap up a perfect three-for-three night at the mountain oval.
In a $16,000 trot, Libertarian, limited to 12 starts in his first three years of eligibility for racing, continued to make up for lost time, running his seasonal tally to five-for-nine by winning in 1:54.3, six lengths clear at the finish for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Rich Gillock. The royally-bred Donato Hanover gelding, a half-brother to $670,000-plus winner Major Athens, is finally rewarding the patience of owners Thomas Brice and Charles Resecki.
Monday’s card will feature two $30,000 Championship paces in the Bobby Weiss Series competition, with Dash Of Dragon, Highalator, and Talent Soup sure to draw attention in the event for males, with the distaff Championship likely to find Andrew Harris stablemates Cousin Mary and Itty Bitty figuring prominently in the racing action.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)