Say You Do took advantage of a contested early tempo and emerged victorious in the $21,500 trotting feature on Sunday night (July 21) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, taking his fifth straight victory in 1:52.2.
Scirocco Rob, Very Very Fast and favourite Winning Shadow battled three-wide through a :27 first quarter, and Winning Shadow circled to the front past Scirocco Rob nearing three-eighths before advancing to the half in :55.2. Very Very Fast, who backed off to tuck at the quarter, moved again at the five-eighths, with Say You Do moving to follow the cover nearing three-quarters in 1:23.4.
The hard early journey struck Winning Shadow first, as he faded in upper stretch as Very Very Fast worked to the lead. Meanwhile, Scirocco Rob ducked to the Pocono Pike and Say You Do fanned off cover for driver Tyler Buter to set up the three-way stretch battle. It was not until the last 50 feet that Say You Do finally made the lead, winning by a nose over Very Very Fast, who was a narrow second over Scirocco Rob.
Say You Do, who had won three straight at The Meadowlands and a start at Tioga prior to his Pocono invasion, has now amassed eight wins in 10 starts this year for trainer Todd Buter and Oldfield Racing LLC.
The Buters completed a sweep of the featured trots on the card when Two AM caught favourite Mississippi Storm late in 1:52.4. Two AM overcame the outside post 8 with a sharp start, yielded in front of the stands to Mississippi Storm, and then came back outside in the lane to triumph by a half length. The winner of $411,605 has now won four of his last five at the mountain oval for Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter and William and Carol Fuhs.
(with files from PHHA/Pocono)