Owner-trainer Mark Akins last Tuesday claimed both Nasey and Crazycat out of the top-level claiming handicap trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, then got immediate returns as he teamed with regular driver Simon Allard to win both of the $15,500 top trots at the northeast Pennsylvania track on Tuesday afternoon (June 13).
The surprise of the pair was Crazycat, a 10-year-old Crazed gelding who had been doing well but not dominating these ranks – until Tuesday. Allard sent the veteran right to the top and posting amazing splits of :26.3, :56 and 1:23 (backstretch tailwind), then stayed strong to win by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:52 – not too many horses with a double-digit age lower their lifetime marks by two seconds.
There was little doubt that Akins was getting a speedy horse in Nasey – he had won five times this year. But the Pilgrims Chuckie gelding has had behavioral problems, usually heading frontward in the first quarter. The trotter held together in a tough journey, getting parked well past a :27.4 opener, yielding to regaining favourite Justlikehim before a :57 half, sitting patiently in the pocket past a 1:25.1 three-quarters, then bursting up the inside in the stretch to handle the favourite by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3.
In all, Allard won five races on Tuesday – matching the figure he had put up this past Saturday. He has 16 wins at Pocono in June so far.
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday (June 17) at 1 p.m. (EDT), with the usual assortment of fast-class performers. Sunday’s 6 p.m. card will feature a rematch between sophomore trotting misses Bond and Railee Something in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition, in addition to a $30,000 Open Trot, which contains Hillexotic, who tied the all-time Philly track record of 1:50.2 in winning the Maxie Lee Trot at the end of May.
(PHHA / Pocono)