On a warm Sunday evening (May 28) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania which all but required winners to be on or near the pace, driver Mark MacDonald moved Hunting Season to the top in front of the stands and went on to win the $15,000 distaff pacing feature in a lifetime best 1:51.1.
The sophomore daughter of Huntsville, who traces back to millionaires Cathedra Dot Com and Cabrini Hanover a couple of generations back in her bloodlines, got away fourth in the :26.2 opening quarter, then was moved by MacDonald to take charge by the :55.1 half. She passed the three-quarters in 1:23.2 and then stepped home in :27.4 to hold off the early leader, My Hungry Girl, by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Ray Schnittker owns Hunting Season with Steven and Mary Kinsey Arnold.
Every one of the night’s 11 Pocono winners were either on the lead, in the pocket, or mounting a first-over bid as the field passed the half towards the backstretch. Driving honours were spread evenly among double winners Simon Allard, Braxten Boyd, Tyler Buter and Marcus Miller. Ron Burke trained a Pocono winner to add to the five successes he had during Super Sunday at Pocono’s sister track Harrah’s Philadelphia, and the victory put him atop the contested conditioners’ column at the mountain oval.
Racing will be held on Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m. Monday’s feature will be the trotting equivalent of the class that was featured on Sunday. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Assocation website.
(PHHA/Pocono)