A pair of $23,233 contests, one on each gait, for horses climbing the class ladder were the featured events on Monday, Sept. 22 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, on a day when either pacesetting or pocket-sitting positioning produced all of the winners.
In the feature for pacing distaffs, the sophomore Huntsville miss Fansville (pictured above), coming off a head loss in her $416,667 New York Sire Stakes Championship, proved her class and reduced her mark to 1:51.4. Jack Pelling sent the three-year-old to control before the :26.4 quarter, then let outside challenger Bequeath go before reclaiming command before a :55.4 half. Au Jus Hanover put in a stern challenge down the backstretch and to the 1:24.1 three-quarters, appearing to poke a nose in front, but Pelling again called on his filly, and she responded to win by 3-1/4 lengths over the first-over challenger, with Shesgotthejack third ahead of Bequeath. Joe Bongiorno conditions the winner for Chain Lightning Stables.
In the trotting headliner, the Jailhouse Jessie gelding Bo Silas enjoyed a two-hole journey behind Stevie Ray as that one posted fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:27, then moved to the Pocono Pike and went to the lead en route to taking a lifetime best of 1:56.1. First-over Foxy Joyce was along for second, with Stevie Ray third behind the Anthony Napolitano-driven winner, who is trained by Mike Watson for owner Clifford Grundy.
Matt Kakaley led all drivers with four victories during the card.
As noted, pacesetters and pocket-sitters predominated on this day – nine leaders at the half and five two-holers won in the 14 races. That trend held even in the last race, where Tictoctimesup, who had never hit the board in 15 career starts, charged out to the lead, rebuffed a mid0race move by the 1-9 favourite, then held sway to the wire over a wall of horses to blow up the tote at a $133 win mutuel, second-highest price of the year.
It was the second straight Pocono card where a bomber scored in the finale – P L Quinella won on Saturday at $65, the trotter’s meet-leading third $50+ win payoff.
Pocono closes out its racing week with a 1 p.m. program on Tuesday. Sept. 23, with a double carryover awaiting players in the last race High 5 pool.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)