WILKES-BARRE PA – Given the royal battles that Downbytheseaside and Huntsville had in their racing careers, it seems appropriate they would be the sires of the first two finishers in the fastest of four $11,700 pari-mutuel debut races for two-year-olds Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The Downbytheseaside – D D Delightful pacing filly Lightning Leia was sent to the lead by driver Matt Kakaley and controlled the pace, looking good until nearing the wire, when the Huntsville miss Twenty Grand founa higher gear and narrowed in. But it was Lightning Leia getting a head decision in 1:54.2 for trainer Travis Alexander and Fiddler’s Creek Stable LLC, following up on a 1:57 win in a baby qualifier in her first charted line.