The pacer Belmont Major N and the trotter Baldaquin both set lifetime marks in winning their respective $15,300 featured events on the Tuesday afternoon program at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
In a race where most of the field was in front at one point or another, the Art Major gelding Belmont Major N was both the first and last leader, getting shuffled to last before mounting a huge stretch charge that carried him to victory in 1:51.3, winning by 1-1/2 lengths with his own last quarter :27.2. It was the first win in two North American starts for the recently-imported Kiwi, who was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Thaddeus Weir.
The Explosive Matter gelding Baldaquin has usually been a steady threat to sweep by his opposition with a big late kick, but today he got to race in the pocket behind SVF Blushingbride, then picked off the leader by a length and a half while lowering his mark to 1:55.1 for trainer Louise Pepin and owner Steven Bryden. The change in tactics was just one of several bits of top-notch driving by Marcus Miller, who won four races at Pocono on Tuesday and eleven in total here during the four-day racing week.
Pocono’s next live card will take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and there will be a mandatory distribution of whatever funds accumulate in the Rainbow Pick 5 pool. The next night, a non-unique Pentafecta wagered will be offered in the last race; also, any Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 or Pentafecta offered at Pocono will have a 100% carryover to the next offering of the bet. Click here to obtain program pages for these cards.
(PHHA / Pocono)