Rich And Miserable, the 2019 Trotter of the Year at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, moved even closer to $500,000 in career earnings with a 1:54.2 victory in the $11,200 featured event on the Sunday twilight card.
Driver Tyler Buter spotted the Explosive Matter gelding third from post 7 before the :28 quarter, then brushed him to command and put up middle splits of :57 and 1:26. Blenheim made a good charge in the stretch, but the :28.2 last split put up by Rich And Miserable was enough to keep him one-and-a-half lengths ahead of that rival.
The Todd Buter trainee, owned by Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, William and Carol Fuhs, boosted his career bankroll to $494,636 as he recorded his 25th win in 74 trips behind the gate. The veteran has done especially well at Pocono, as his record at the mountain oval is 11 wins in 19 starts, including his last two outings.
Aflame Hanover, getting away from Borgata Series company, completed a wire-to-wire 1:51 victory with a :26.3 last quarter under no urging from driver Marcus Miller, who along with Matt Kakaley had three wins on the card. The victory was the first of the year for the gelded son of Russell Hanover, who now has career earnings $379,624 for trainer Linda Schadel, co-owner with husband Tony Schadel.
The fillies will see their first Bobby Weiss Series action on Monday afternoon, with four $17,500 divisions of the first preliminary leg for sophomore pacers in consecutive events, Races 10 through 13. First post on Monday afternoon is 12:30 p.m. (EDT); program pages will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.
(PHHA / Pocono)