Incommunicado was backed to 1-5 upon coming to Pocono for the $20,000 featured fast-class trot on Sunday evening (July 9), but he had to work hard to catch Yanks Dugout by a nose in 1:55.2 over a "sloppy" oval.
The successful Chapter Seven gelding took a hesitant step towards the start from the rail, but it cost him little in positioning as Yanks Dugout was the only quick leaver, so Incommunicado maintained the pocket in a :28.2 opener. However, Yanks Dugout, a 31 per cent winner, and driver Simon Allard were able to get away with middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:28 (in comparison, a “NW1600L5” trot earlier had middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27.4).
The price of trotting went up dramatically in the final quarter, with Yanks Dugout motoring home in :27.2 but still not able to hold off the winner by the slimmest possible margin. Incommunicado, a winner of $630,257 and a winner of the Dexter Cup and the Massachusetts stakes championship at two and three, is trained by Åke Svanstedt for the ownership group of Knutsson Trotting Inc., Little E LLC, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz.
In addition to driving the feature winner, “George Nap” was top among all Pocono drivers Sunday with four victories.
Pennsylvania All-Stars races for two-year-olds will highlight the racing action for Monday and Tuesday’s 1 p.m. (EDT) cards, with pacing colts topping the bill on Monday and trotting fillies going to the gate on Tuesday.
Engblom, Calabrese Claim Pocono AHDC Trots
Helene Engblom grabbed the lead and rolled while John Calabrese coasted on cover and powered home to take their respective $11,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot on Sunday's card.
In the first division, Helene Engblom planted Ifnotmewho onto the lead past a :28 first quarter and pressed forward through the remainder. She encountered mid-race pressure from odds-on favourite Newell Place (driven by John Calabrese) after a :57 half, and kept that rival parked through three-quarters in 1:26. Saving ground while on the point, Ifnotmewho maintained a 1-1/2-length lead to the finish on Newell Place to stop the clock in 1:56.4, finishing another five lengths in front of Real Mccoy (Dante Scattolini) in third and Bang Bang Boinga (Yogi Sheridan) in fourth.
Patrick Hlubik owns and trains Ifnotmewho, a five-year-old mare by Credit Winner. She paid $15.60 as the third choice in the betting.
Shoemaker Hanover decimated his rivals in rein to John Calabrese in the second AHDC division. Getting away fourth while All Rise (Tony Beltrami) clocked a :29 first quarter, Shoemaker Hanover quickly caught cover from Allindotime (Bruce Baker) as that one blitzed the leader into a :57.4 half and remained at his throat through three-quarters in 1:27.2. As the pair pummeled each other into submission, Calabrese readied Shoemaker Hanover for a three-wide sweep and took the lead off the final turn to a widening margin through the lane. Winning in 1:58.1, Shoemaker Hanover crossed the line six lengths better than Campbellini (Dante Scattolini) closing to get second. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) picked up third and pocket-sitter Brownie (Mike Polansky) settled for fourth.
John Calabrese conditions Shoemaker Hanover, a 10-year-old stallion by Cantab Hall, for his Calabrese Farms LLC and Michelle Rickey. He paid $4.80 to win.
AHDC action shifts back to Harrah’s Philadelphia next Sunday, July 16. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from PHHA / Pocono & AHDC)