After a long stretch at the Yonkers half-mile, Annieswesterncard took to the five-eighth-mile oval at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs beautifully and scored a victory in Saturday night’s featured Preferred Pace. The race carried the night’s top purse of $25,000.
Annieswesterncard (Western Hanover-Annie Youre A Card), a seven-year-old gelding from the Ron Burke barn, had spent the past two months campaigning against the very best pacers on the grounds at Yonkers. His first start at the Pocono oval in 2013 came from the inside post in a field of six and he was made the 7-5 favourite.
He sat third at the quarter as Mickey Hanover cut out the opening panel in :26-seconds even. Driver Matt Kakaley sent Annieswesterncard to the front at the three-eighth-mile marker with a front stretch brush, but he just as quickly ceded the lead to Bet On The Law, who came in on a three-race winning streak and led at the half in :53.3 and at three-quarters in 1:21.1. Annieswesterncard waited until the stretch to uncork his second move and, in a furious drive with several horses battling for the lead, rallied in time to beat Bet On The Law by a neck in a career-best 1:49. Pence Hanover finished third.
Annieswesterncard, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable, and Panhellenic Stable Corporation, won for the seventh time in 14 starts this season. His victory, the 29th of his career, pushed his lifetime earnings to $1,356,006.
(With files from Pocono Downs)