Some well-known harness names --- and a few that may establish themselves at the highest levels in the near future --- were out for qualifying action at Pocono Downs Thursday morning.
Well, technically afternoon, too, because it was 12:06 p.m. when Bolt The Duer, the fastest horse ever on a five-eighths-mile track by virtue of his 1:47.4 triumph in the Adios last year, went behind the gate for the second time as a four-year-old.
The morning's work seemed easy for Bolt The Duer, a son of Ponder, as driver Mark MacDonald zipped him home with a :54.1 back half, which included a :26.4 final quarter to complete an open-length win in 1:53.2 for trainer Peter Foley and All-Star Racing Inc.
Economy Terror, recently voted Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Horse of the Year for 2012, also made her four-year-old bow at Pocono.
After having ridden second-over behind Track Master D, Economy Terror tipped off cover for driver Jim Morrill Jr. and gained a neck advantage over her stubborn rival at the wire in 1:56.2. Chris Oakes handles the daughter of Western Terror for Chuck Pompey, Edwin Gold, and Howard Taylor, with the Betsy Ross Pace on May 26 at Harrah’s Philadelphia a likely destination for her early in the season.
Good Day Mate, the son of Christian Cullen who won an exciting PA Sires Championship last year at two, returned to the track Thursday, coming up a length shy in a 1:56.4 mile to He Rocks The Moon, another sophomore debutante who won in 1:53 at two.
One to keep an eye on is the Erv Miller-trained Jeremes Jet gelding Up Up And Out, who glided to victory in 1:53.1, which went down as the fastest clocking of the session. The son of Jeremes Jet notched a 1:52.3 triumph at Mohawk Racetrack last season.
(PASS)