Driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Tee Wine and owners Jemaxpo Racing Stable LLC won two of the three $15,500 claiming handicap trotting features on Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, as the smoke from the Canadian wildfires reached as far down as the Keystone State and made for hazy viewing.
The Wheeling N Dealin gelding Diehard Seelster won his third straight race via the pocket trip in a lifetime best of 1:53.3. The favourite sat behind second choice Shadowfax, shipping in from The Meadows after taking three straight, then showed a sharp late punch to go past the pacesetter by three-quarters of a length.
The second feature winner for the group was also a pocket rocket: the Pilgrims Chuckie gelding Nasey, who minded his manners today and followed along patiently in the pocket behind Justlikehim, favoured slightly over him, then came up the Pocono Pike to nose out his rival in 1:54.2. Unfortunately for his now-former connections, Nasey was claimed away from them for $31,250.
The third division produced the fastest time of the tri-features, as the Father Patrick gelding Divine Spirit, normally a closer, had the lead while the starter’s “go” was still hanging in the air, and he never gave up the advantage in winning by four lengths in a new mark of 1:53.2, with a last quarter of :27.4. Marcus Miller guided the Clifton Green trainee for JML Racing LLC.
Anthony Napolitano won five times on the Tuesday card, bringing him closer in second place to the meet’s leading driver Matt Kakaley in the standings.
Racing is now being conducted at Pocono on Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays at 1 p.m., and on Sundays at 6 p.m. Sunday’s card will feature Hambletonian hopefuls in the second prelim of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association website.
(PHHA/Pocono)