Three $20,548 contests for horses headed upwards on the class ladder highlighted the Tuesday (July 2) afternoon card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Two of the events were paces, and the faster went to Chrchviewcamlot IR, who defeated a talented field in 1:50.4. Tyler Buter got in the Foreclosure N gelding hustling at the :27.2 quarter, and he paced an individual second split of :26.4 to clear to the front before the :54.3 half. On Time Delivery, who went up on the first turn to get ahead of early leader Vengeance Blue Chip, was closest to the winner at the 1:23.1 three-quarters, but Vengeance Blue Chip came on with a rush to finish a neck behind the winner and a neck ahead of the pocketsitter, who lost for the first time in seven starts this year.
Chrchviewcamlot IR is now undefeated in three 2024 starts and has an enviable 12-for-19 lifetime tally. The five-year-old is owned by Richard Poilllucci and David Kryway.
The other division of the pacing feature was taken by the sophomore Always B Miki gelding Dublin Dasher (completing an Irish theme), who had not started since leading at the quarter in the Matron at Dover, but still was ready to go 1:51.2 on the front end here. Matt Kakaley (top driver for the day with four successes) sent the returnee through fractions of :26.3, :55.4, and 1:23.4 before a :27.3 sprint home was enough to withstand pocketsitter Rocknroll Lou by three-quarters of a length. Dublin Dasher took a new mark for trainer Hunter Oakes and owners Alan Johnston and H O Racing Inc.
The top trot was taken by the Walner sophomore filly Sister Diane, who had to go uncovered but still won by 2-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:54. George Napolitano Jr. did the driving behind Sister Diane for trainer Åke Svanstedt and the partnership of Stable Why Not and Åke Svanstedt Inc.
There were a pair of $15,411 trots for two-year-olds, divided by sex. The males were led throughout by the International Moni – Make It Blue Chip gelding Wapiti Blue Chip, breaking his maiden by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:57.4 - :57.4 - :28.2 for driven Braxten Boyd, trainer Mahlon Martin, and owners Ashley Burslem, Steven Mullen, and Gregory Garton.
The filly Santa Cristina had an even bigger margin at the finish – 6-1/4 lengths – as the daughter of Bar Hopping – Cardinale came from second while trotting her last half in :57.2 - :28.3 to complete a 1:58.1 score in her purse bow. Andy Miller guided the winner for trainer/wife Julie Miller and Willow Oak Ranch.
Pocono’s live action resumes on Saturday (July 6) with a 1 p.m. first post.
(PHHA / Pocono)