The Nuncio three-year-old gelding Joygo shipped into Pocono Downs for his previous start, and coming off 30 days away and drawing post eight, the bettors let him go at 30-1, but he finished a very good third.
Lesson learned quickly, Joygo was sent off at 1-5 from post four for Tuesday’s $15,000 trotting feature at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and he rewarded the public’s confidence while winning in 1:54.3.
Awsome Paul was sent right to the lead at 90-1, with Tranquility K (Anthony Napolitano) looped and pressing on, while Joygo and Anthony’s brother George edged to the outside from third at the :27.3 quarter. But the decided longshot put both brothers back in holes, not wanting to surrender the front, and getting to the half in :56.1.
“George Nap” moved outside again with the favourite nearing a 1:24.4 three-quarters, with Tranquility K following him on the far turn, and in the stretch they proved the best pair in the field, with Joygo owning a 1-1/4 length margin at the finish.
Joygo, five-for-12 as a sophomore and eight-for-18 lifetime, is trained by Lance Barber, who is also co-owner with Sonya Renee Barber.
Pocono will now take a break from racing until next Monday, Sept. 11, and will be going into its fall schedule at that time. Racing will be held on Saturday (draw Monday), Monday (draw Tuesday), and Tuesday (draw Wednesday), with all of the pari-mutuel action to begin at 1:30 p.m. each day.
(PHHA / Pocono)