The noted closer Baldaquin came from last (save a breaker) to first to win his second straight race, the trotting event in a pair of $15,300 features at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Five-time Tuesday winner Tyler Buter was aboard as Baldaquin took a mark of 1:55 despite the track being rated “good.”
The Explosive Matter gelding was far off the hot fractions of :26.3 and :55.3 argued by Gerard on the inside and SVF Blushingbride on the outside, but then got in gear going down the backstretch for Buter, following the cover of Caviart Emma passing the 1:25 three-quarters. Caviart Emma got past the tired front-enders, but was ripe to be passed by the late-speed specialist, who won by 1-1/2 lengths. Worthy Of Honor came clear and also rallied late for second, with Caviart Emma third.
The lightly-raced Baldaquin, now five, has seven wins in 16 career starts for trainer Louise Pepin and owner Steven Bryden.
Buter also drove winners Miki The Clown ($11.60) for trainer Todd Buter, What A Dame ($2.40) for D. R. Ackerman, One After Nine ($4.60) for Laura Angle and Gamblin Mo ($3) for John Butenschoen.
In the pacing headliner, it was a hard-fought battle between two Kiwis the last three-eighths, with the Sweet Lou gelding Im A Gigolo N brushing to the lead just past the half, then coming home in :53.4 to hold off a determined bid from favoured Belmont Major N by a length. The winner took a new mark of 1:50 after the track had been upgraded to “fast.”
Ron Burke trains Im A Gigolo N for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and Phil Collura.
When racing resumes at The Downs on Saturday, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes will be the features for a few days. Saturday will find Shady Daisy 1-2 finishers Grace Hill and Fire Start Hanover in separate divisions of a three-year-old filly pace contest, their last Sire Stakes prelim before their Championship at Pocono on Saturday, Sept. 4. The next two cards will feature the best Pennsylvania-sired two-year-olds: pacing colts on Sunday and trotting fillies on Monday. Program pages will be available at phha.org.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)