Energysource and Hankins Hanover got the job done in the $23,6111 featured trots on Saturday afternoon, July 27 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Energysource (pictured above), a Swan For All gelding, has a history of bunching his wins – half of his 12 lifetime victories before this race came in a month and a half at the Indiana fairs last year – and here he took his second straight victory while lowering his mark to 1:53.3. Anthony Napolitano had his horse perfectly placed second-over as the fractions went :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.4, then swung him wide and ran down the horse who had set much of the pace, the favoured Crystal Trio IT, by 1-1/2 lengths. Lance Hudson trains the sharp trotter for owner William Hartt.
Hankins Hanover, a sophomore Walner gelding, had to do his work uncovered as Missile set fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:26.2, but the three-year-old showed grittiness as he grinded down the pacesetter to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1, with Attis Rock ducking to the Pocono Pike from second-over to get third, another three parts of a length behind. Hankins Hanover was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese.
Two and three starts ago, Imaginary Line had caught Shoobie Doo A up the inside from the pocket in Pocono’s $22,917 claiming handicap pace; last week others were involved early, shuffling Imaginary Line to third-in, and when free he couldn’t catch 'Shoobie' and lost his six-race win streak.
This week, the “normal order” was restored as the Betting Line gelding Imaginary Line, who was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Darren Taneyhill and LAV Racing Stable Inc., parked Shoobie Doo A just past a :25.4 opener, sat on his back through mid-splits of :54.3 and 1:22, then again used the Pocono Pike as a route to victory in 1:49.4. Epic Ace finished with a rush to take second, a neck behind the winner and three parts of a length ahead of Shoobie Doo A. The winner and pacesetter were haltered for a second straight week, with their old owners each forking over $1,389 extra this time to get back the two horses, who were here taken for a combined $109,722.
With the words “Adios,” "Meadowlands Pace” and “North America Cup” scattered in his competition lines, the Captain Crunch sophomore gelding Number Cruncher showed his appreciation for getting away from those roughies by taking a $20,833 pace in 1:50.2. Marcus Miller, driving for trainer/father Erv, sat comfortable fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24, then burned home in :26.2 to hold off two-holer Chrchviewcamlot IR by 11-/2 lengths for Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Douglas Overhiser and Greg Gillis.
George Napolitano Jr. had the hot hands on the Saturday card, bringing home five winners.
Pocono races on Sundays at 6 p.m.. That card will be followed by Monday and Tuesday programs at 1 p.m.
(PHHA / Pocono)