There were five $20,833 feature races at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon, Aug. 18. They were for developing horses basically fitting the “non-winners of four races lifetime” description, and there were divisions for the major categories.
The lone division for females went to Ballast (pictured above), a Tall Dark Stranger sophomore filly who won her second straight after capturing a Stallion Series race in her previous start. Ballast let the early fireworks settle past the :26.3 opener then brushed to the lead just under the wire the first time, putting up middle splits of :55.1 and 1:23.3, then withstanding Odds On Aces Full to her inside and Verity Blue Chip to her outside for trainer Travis Alexander and EVM Racing LLC.
The win behind Ballast was the final one in a natural five-bagger for three-time defending Pocono champion Matt Kakaley. It looked like the streak might carry on to six as Kakaley next had The Rogue Prince, coming from competing in the Hambletonian eliminations in one of the two $20,833 headliners for trotters.
However, despite racing in a good flow The Rogue Prince could do no better than third. After a mild early tempo of :28.4 and :58.2, the International Moni three-year-old gelding Scudo Hanover came up strongly down the back, followed by Honolulu Hanover and The Rogue Prince, and “Scudo” would clear by the 1:26.2 three-quarters. Honolulu Hanover got to tuck in the new pocket on the far turn and continued his challenge in the Pocono Pike while The Rogue Prince gained outside, but neither could catch Scudo Hanover, who won in 1:54.3 for driver Jim Marohn Jr., trainer Robert Baggitt Jr., and Keystone Stable.
In the other top-level trot, Furst Igor S was first at every pole, ringing up splits of :29, :58.2 and 1:27.2 before scurrying home in :28.2 to complete the 1:55.4 victory. An altered son of top European trotter Readly Express, Furst Igor S has left behavioural problems largely behind him now, with trainer Marc Mosher tapping Simon Allard for the drive behind the horse, owned by A 1 Racing.
Two of the top races were for pacing males, and Anthony Napolitano drove the winners of both races.
The faster went to the Huntsville gelding Imgoingtojackson, who’s going to his stall with a new 1:50.3 mark despite early entanglement with Laugh Shop, his conqueror of last week, through fractions of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:22.3. Imgoingtojackson went on to stamp himself as the best today for trainer Carl Conte Jr. and owner Ellen McNeil.
Also taking a new lifetime best was the American Ideal gelding American Warrior, who worked to the lead well past a :27 opener, passed the middle poles in :55.3 and 1:23.3, then withstood Sweet Parlay to his outside and Power Code to his inside for trainer Deborah Daguet and owners Brian and Kim Sears.
The Pocono racing week concludes with a 1 p.m. card on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)