Ontarians Michael and Walter Whelan teamed up to win Monday's (Sept. 6) $11,200 trotting feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono with Great Magic, who equalled his lifetime best of 1:54.4.
Great Magic, a nine-year-old son of Kadabra whom Walter Whelan owns and trains, is atypical of the usual stable style, which seems to focus on horses who race from off the pace. Great Magic has been showing a good deal of early zip in his recent races, and here, driver Michael Whelan moved him to the lead in front of the stands and kept him going all the way to the finish line, finishing four lengths clear of favoured Bank Box Treasure.
Solid younger performers making their way up the class ladder are featured on the Tuesday (Sept. 7) card, with twin $15,300 featured events — one for each gait — on the 13-race card. Post time is 12:30 p.m.; program pages are available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA/Pocono)