Macraider N and Bettor Sweet set a world record in Saturday night’s featured Open Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs by posting the fastest time ever on a 5/8-mile oval in a race finishing in a dead heat for the win. The amazing time was
1:48.4.
In a night filled with sizzling times at Pocono, the $60,000 Open Pace figured to be a scorcher. Macraider N, driven by George Napolitano Jr. for trainer Lou Pena, surged to the lead on the front stretch. Bettor Sweet, who left from the outside post in the field of nine for trainer Tom Cancelliere, settled fourth early, but was urged by driver Dave Palone on a first-over trip on the backstretch to challenge the leader.
The pair raced side-by side for the final quarter of a mile, with neither getting a major edge. At the finish line, there was no separation, and, after examining the photo, the Pocono judges declared the dead heat for the win in the time of 1:48.4. That was a new career mark for Macraider N, who shipped in from Yonkers for the start, and it matched the fastest time paced on any 5/8-mile oval this year in addition to breaking the mark for fastest dead heat. Fractional times for the mile were :25.4, :53.4 and 1:20.4.
In other action at Pocono, Mystical Diva and Some Girls Do, both driven by Matt Kakaley, won eliminations for next week’s James M. Lynch Memorial pace for three-year-old pacing fillies. The field for the final was set by the two elimination races, which each carried a purse of $30,000.
In the first elimination, Mystical Diva worked out a pocket trip behind a sizzling pace and then used the passing lane to win in 1:50.4 by a half-length. Kakaley did the driving for trainer Tony Alagna. Hasty Pulse (George Napolitano Jr., Ron Burke), who finished second, Chartreuse Hanover (Tyler Buter, Rich Bilach), who nabbed third, and Foxy Lady (Dave Palone, Ron Burke), who held on for fourth, all punched tickets for next Saturday’s final. Live Inspired (Montrell Teague, George Teague Jr.) also snuck into the final based on having the faster fifth-place time of the two divisions.
In the second split, Kakaley sent Some Girls Do, trained by Ron Burke, on a first-over trip on the backstretch. The filly powered by the leaders late to win by one and a half lengths in 1:52. Other finalists from this split include Fresh Idea (Dave Palone, Tony Alagna), who rallied for second, Kaylas Dream (George Napolitano Jr., William Popfinger), who came up for third, and Speed And Grace (Corey Callahan, Mark Kesmodel), who managed fourth.
(Pocono Downs)