Juxta Cowgirl shot up the famed Pocono Pike and won a blanket finish in 1:51.2 to take the $14,000 feature for distaff pacers during the Sunday (Sept. 20) card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The $334,648-winning daughter of Relentless Yankee, handled by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Mike Watson and Glasser Racing LLC, surrendered the lead to Eclipse Me N and sat perfectly-placed as that one and favoured Its Mesmerise N dueled from late backstretch into the lane. Juxta Cowgirl then dipped inside and made a strong move late to win by a length over Vorst, who rallied deeper in the open stretch. The entire field of six was separated by only two-and-a-quarter lengths at the finish.
Most impressive in the three $12,000 co-featured events Sunday was the Rock N Roll Heaven sophomore colt Rock Me Hard, whose final time of 1:52 was just a tick off his lifetime best. 22-year-old provisional driver Barton Dalious drove his charge with confidence, making two moves with him to secure the lead nearing the :54.4 half, then still having enough to keep Trevor One at bay by a half length for trainer/father W. Bart Dalious and the Wiz Kids Stable LLC.
A very small group of drivers won a very large percentage of the Sunday races at Pocono: Kevin Wallis and Tyler Buter both won three times (Buter for the second-straight night), while Matt Kakaley, Marcus Miller, and Anthony Napolitano all doubled.
Racing resumes at Pocono Monday (Sept. 21) at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) with a Rainbow Pick 5 carryover of $209,471.72.
(PHHA/Pocono)