The Dragon Again gray horse Gray Dragon made it two straight over 2019 Meadowlands Pace winner Best In Show on Tuesday afternoon (May 18) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, again acting as a pocket rocket to catch the pacesetter, this time in 1:50.1, in one of three $15,300 feature races.
Best In Show, who was favoured at 3-5 in his second race of the year to Gray Dragon’s 6-5, made the lead around his archrival in :27.1, then posted fractions of :55 and 1:22.4, the latter coming as Blu Crew ranged first-over. That one could not sustain his bid, and the stretch battle ensued between the familiar rivals, with Gray Dragon having the stronger turn of late step by a half-length for driver Mark MacDonald, trainer John Butenschoen, and Emerald Highlands Farm. Gray Dragon is now perfect in three starts at Pocono, and keeps his eligibility in his present class.
That contest was for pacing males; the distaff pacers were topped by The Roll With Joe mare Turnthefrownaround, who was uncovered from before the half for driver Matt Kakaley but still showed enough energy to catch front-stepping favourite Rose Run Victoria by a half-length at the end of a 1:51.1 mile. That clocking gave Turnthefrownaround a new mark for trainer Ron Burke and her ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phil Collura.
Toughest late in the feature trot was Magnificent Seven, a son of Chapter Seven who rallied off cover to catch the game pacesetter Cant Say No in 1:55, making all three features decided by a half-length. Magnificent Seven has now won twice in his last three starts for trainer Ed Hart and the ownership of Richard Gutnick, Joseph Lozito Jr., T L P Stable, and Ted Gewertz.
Racing resumes on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. (EDT), with three $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars contest for three-year-old trotting colts spotlighting some of the best horses in that division. Further, the Rainbow Pick 5 carryover pool will be $64,357.85, and there will also be a Pick 4 carryover exceeding $2,400. Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)