By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WATTSBURG PA – The 32-year-old “youthful veteran” horseman Aaron Johnston (this is his 16th year of driving) capped off a big two-day Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes racing stand for himself and the Erie County Fair in this northwestern Pennsylvania borough when he guided the Cantab Hall sophomore gelding Bigly to a mile in 2:03.2 – the fastest trotting mile ever at the Wattsburg oval.
 
Undefeated in five 2022 fair starts and with a pari-mutuel Stallion Series win to his credit, it wasn’t a surprise Bigly went on to victory for trainer/driver Johnston and owners Jennifer Johnston and Brian Taylor. But whenever you beat a record that began 34 years ago, you immediately become part of a special history:  Bigly’s 2:03.2 erased the track’s all-age trot standard first set by Smokey Crown in 1988 and later tied by Major Matter (2016) and New Heaven (2017) – all of them three-year-old males like Bigly.
 
Fastest mile of the meet at Wattsburg came in the first race on Tuesday, the day given over to sophomore PaFSS racing. It was posted by the Betting Line filly Cathy Hanover, who won in 2:01.3, with Aaron Johnston doing the sulky honors for trainer Nathan Bresnahan and owner Matthew Miller.
 
We keep taking pains to say “Aaron Johnston” because two other members of Clan Johnston, driver Shawn and trainer Gary, both had good meets, but it was again Aaron Johnston who was the trainer and driver of the horse who altered another line in the Wattsburg annals on Monday, the day of two-year-old action. And that honor also went to owners Jennifer Johnston and Brian Taylor, when their International Moni – Fan Favourite trotting colt Momoni De Vie was victorious in 2:05.4, reducing the divisional record of Tag The Lady by a tick and also equaling the filly Lovebeinglucky as the fastest two-year-old trotting winner ever at Wattsburg.
 
Fortunately, Momoni De Vie’s race was scheduled early on the Monday card, as a storm came in after race nine and forced the cancellation of the day’s final five races. It was the first cancellation due to weather for the heretofore-lucky Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes trail, which had gone two months and a day without a rainout before Monday.
 
Aaron Johnston and Wayne Long each drove six winners during the shortened two-day Wattsburg stand to share driving honors; of Long’s sextet, five came from his own barn as he won the trainers crown by one over his co-sulky champion.
 
State fair racing is right back in the game at Stoneboro PA on Thursday (two-year-olds, 6:30 p.m.) and Friday (three-year-olds, noon).

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – It was a wet Tuesday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, but you’ll hear no complaints from Stonebridge Karis after he lowered his record over four seconds to 1:51 in winning one of the three $13,000 pacing features.
 
Jim Pantaleano pointed the three-year-old Sweet Lou gelding frontward and the pair were never headed, winning by five lengths. The one sad part for trainer Herbert Lux III and owners Carver Racing LLC and William (Moon) Mullin is that the horse was claimed for $33,000 out of the giant victory.
 
Winning the other two pacing cuts was driver Anthony Napolitano, who recorded his second five-win day in the four-card racing week. Anthony Nap used the uncovered route to get the Bettor’s Delight sophomore gelding Team Mac to take a new record of 1:52.3 for trainer Victoria Stratton and the ownership of VIP Internet Stable LLC and Stratton Stable Inc. He then captured the other pacing headliner in the heaviest rain of the day with The American Ideal gelding My Boy Jack in 1:55.4 for trainer Matias Ruiz and owner Jose Cervantes.
 
There were also a pair of $12,500 top trots, both taken by first-over horses: by the Credit Winner gelding Credit Con, who took a new mark of 1:55.1 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Todd Buter, and owner Lee Sitto; and by the Muscle Hill gelding Muscle Dynasty, who added hopples and promptly came from off a hot pace to also take a new speed badge, 1:55.2, for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Erv Miller, and owner Douglas Overhiser.
 
When racing resumes on Saturday, it will mark the last week before the end of the four-card-a-week format Pocono has been using much of the spring and summer. Racing will be conducted over the Labor Day holiday weekend on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m., the highlight of the upcoming week being the $320,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championship on the Labor Day Monday card. Afterward, the track will start racing again on Monday, September 12, with a Saturday-Monday-Tuesday at 1:30 schedule. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Share The Wealth made an early move to the lead, and then he was in control the rest of the way to score handily in 1:55.1 in the $15,000 featured trot Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
 
Driver Braxten Boyd reserved the son of Muscle Hill off a 28.1 first quarter set by Tranquility K, then brushed him to command and posted midsplits of :58.1 and 1:26.3. By A Hoff Hanover came up uncovered and got to about even with the pocketsitting Tranquility K, but both were left behind in the lane as Share The Wealth won by 3¾ lengths over Tranquility K, with By A Hoff Hanover another half length behind. Hunter Oaks trains the winner for Elite Harness Racing LLC.
 
Two races later, the Deweycheatumnhowe sophomore colt Weather Vanes lit up the board, paying $116.40 while winning his event in a new mark of 1:57.4. Kasper Foget made two moves with the sophomore and he went on gamely to the wire for trainer Per Engblom and Winning Key Inc.
 
Thos racing week closes Tuesday with a 1:30 p.m.; when racing resumes on Saturday, it will be the last of the four-card-a-week main seasonal schedule, with the $320,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championships on the Labor Day Monday card. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr 
CHESTER PA – The two winners of the $73,635 divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stake for two-year-old trotting fillies both signaled their readiness for this coming Sunday’s Championship at Harrah’s Philadelphia by taking new lifetime marks in this Sunday afternoon’s successes.
 
Faster by a tick was the Cantab Hall  - No I’m Not miss Cando Volo, who sat in the pocket behind Angelpedia and her factions of :27.2, :56.3, and 1:25.3, then came on to catch that filly by half a length in 1:55.2 on a day where being on or near the lead was greatly helpful to a horse’s chances of success. Corey Callahan, who would also win two Stallion Series divisions, drove Cando Volo for trainer Vernon Beachy and owner Ryan Smith, and the winner was the only non-favorite in the seven stakes races of the day to win – in fact, she was the longest shot on the board, paying $32.00.
 
In the other division, the Donato Hanover – Motivational miss Portulaca captured the top spot among her preliminaries’ pointwinners with her third win in five career starts (4-2-1-1 in the PaSS), this one in 1:55.3. Montrell Teague kept the Kathleen La Montagne-trained filly, which she co-owns with Donald La Montagne, in the two-hole almost all the way through fractions of :28.3, :57.2, and 1:26.3, popping out near the last-named station, going to the lead, then held off a late bid by Tipsy Moni by 1¼ lengths.
 
Aside from their all being favorites, there were several other interweavings in the connections of the five $20,000 Stallion Series winners; since we have mentioned Corey Callahan already, we’ll start with his. The faster of his two Stallion winners was the Bar Hopping – Snowflake Hanover filly Totally Relentless, maximizing her talent to take a 1:57.1 maiden mark for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone and R-And-I Farms LLC. 
 
“Captain Corey” (yes, the 2021 Hambletonian winner was named after him) also scored with the International Moni – Miss Athens distaff Foolish Moni, her third win but first in the U.S., in 1:57.2 for trainer Jessica Fallon and owners Tim Klemencic and Blake MacIntosh. This training/owning team also clicked with the Father Patrick – Gin And Lindy filly Lindys Irishcream, fastest Stallion Series winner in 1:57 under the guidance of Simon Allard, giving her StS wins in her last two trips behind the gate.
 
Father Patrick completed a siring double with Jameson N Lime (dam On The Rocks), who now has six wins in her brief career (two in the Stallion Series) after a 1:57.2 triumph for owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Big L Stable, and Mary Owlett, trainer Steve Schoeffel, and driver Brady Brown. Brown also had a Stallion Series double, and his other win came with the leading prelim pointwinner (4-2-1-1), the Fordham Road – Fast Reaction filly Fortune Forecast, who took a new mark of 1:57.4 for trainer Rick Beinhauer, also co-owner with Regina Beinhauer.
 
Today’s results, from the final PaSS/PaStS prelims of the year, assure that no one from any of the eight divisions will have a chance to “sweep” their respective competitions – take all four preliminaries and then the Championship -- but a first-place Championship check will likely be more than adequate compensation. Philly will have four of those Sire Stakes Championships for two-year-olds, plus whatever consolation races that fill, next Sunday, September 4 during a card offering over $1 million in purses.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Backstreet Shadow, enjoying the relief of escaping the bully-boy free-for-allers, came to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday afternoon and made short week of a talented field, winning the $25,000 featured fast-class pace in 1:49.1.
 
Simon Allard reserved the Shadow Play gelding off the early action as J M Mandamin wrested the lead from Mark Witha K after a :26.2 quarter, then sent the winner of $1,176,710 uncovered as the field approached the :55 half. Despite going first-over, Backstreet Shadow went a :26.1 personal third split to easily clear to the lead nearing the 1:21.4 three-quarters, then had the others far in his rearview mirror through the lane, with second-over Priceless Beach five lengths back in second; favored third-over Jack’s Legend N was another length behind on a day where horses far back early did not do very well.
 
Ron Burke, who has built a sizable lead atop the local trainers standings, conditions the fast veteran for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby.
 
Both of the $17,500 co-featured events were won by driver Anthony Napolitano, who brought both winners from second-over, about as far as anyone could come late and be effective. On the trot Blenheim, a Yankee Glide gelding who has two victories at the meet by double-digit lengths, won by a relatively modest 1½ lengths over Rich And Miserable in 1:53.2 for trainer Lance Hudson and William Hartt, as favored Sorella, who would have reached seven figures in lifetime earnings with a victory, was involved in a fast early pace and could only last for fourth.
 
In the pacing co-feature Carlisimo, who was last early, benefited from following the useful cover of Dealer’s Table, and his late move just got him past the pacesetter Vettel N by a nose in 1:50.4. Robert Cleary trains the son of Shadow Play, who surpassed $300,000 in lifetime earnings with the success, for owner Eric Good.
 
Anthony Napolitano, fourth in the current Pocono standings, wound up with five winners on the card. There was a great deal of red and white in the Pocono winners circle on the day as Anthony’s brother George took four races and narrowed the distance between himself and top driver Matt Kakaley to 185-178.
 
Sunday’s 5 p.m. twilight card at Pocono has a $25,000 fast-class pace for distaffs and the summer Championship and Consolation for the American Harness Drivers Club competition for amateur horsemen. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
INDIANA PA – The Pennsylvania Fair Harness racing circuit traveled to this westcentral Pennsylvania city for two days of harness racing on Thursday and Friday at the Indiana County Fairgrounds. Besides being known as the birthplace of actor Jimmy Stewart, Indiana is also known as the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World” because their trade organization was founded there, and many talented trotters and pacers built on solid seasonal records to help keep the prospects of the holidays warm for their connections.
 
No track records were rewritten at Indiana, either during Thursday freshman action nor Friday’s sophomore events, but one horse familiar with the process, the International Moni – Arrowstar colt Action Shot, came closest in his Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes “A” division with a 2:05.2 mile, just a tick behind the mark set ten years ago this week by Markup Hanover. Action Shot, who earlier equaled the all-age track record of Vivid Photo at Honesdale in 2:02 and also altered a line with a 2:04 mile in his last start at Meadville, has now won four straight for straight for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, also co-owner with his wife Christine and Rick and Regina Beinhauer.
 
Fastest pacing baby was the Stay Hungry – Sara Diamond miss Stay Happy, rebounding after a disqualification from the win for interference in her previous start, covering the Indiana half-miler in a snappy 2:02.4 for driver Mike Wilder, trainer Dan Altmeyer, and owner Ruth Altmeyer.
 
On Friday, several three-year-olds continued to add to their lofty credentials of recent weeks. The Explosive Matter trotting filly Heart Matters became the first horse to notch eight wins over the Pennsylvania twicearounds with a 2:05.1 mile for the same team behind Action Shot. This was the seventh win in a row for Heart Matters; also winning his seventh straight was the Always B Miki colt Buchannon Hanover, a 2:02.1 winner to raise his overall fair total to seven for Todd and Christine Schadel. 
 
Another who now has seven 2022 fair wins after a 2:05.4 tally is the Betting Line filly Bettor Strait N Up, co-owned by driver Tony and trainer/wife Linda Schadel; atop her group’s pointstandings this year and a double 2021 honoree for points total and Championship win, Bettor Strait N Up is getting to a position where she could be the first-ever fair horse in the recordbooks to be a double champion at both two and three.
 
Unusually, the fastest mile of the entire Indiana stand was notched by a winner in a “B” division race for sophomore pacing colts, Toto Hanover, a son of A Rocknroll Dance who completed the mile in 2:02 for driver David Brickell and owner/trainer Mitchell York.
 
Todd Schadel again emerged as the leading driver and trainer of the meet; on the driving side Wayne Long came in second, while among trainers Dan Altmeyer, Steve Schoeffel, and Mitchell York tied for second spot.
 
The Erie County Fair in Wattsburg PA will be racing on Monday and Tuesday at noon as the tenth and final fair stop in an extraordinarily busy month within the state. After Wattsburg there will be five more PaFSS stops for horses to earn enough points to earn their way into their $25,000 Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championships, to be held Friday, October 7 at The Meadows.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Hellabalou, the 2021 Adios winner making his debut for trainer Ron Burke and three of his four owning entities, completed a natural four-timer for driver Simon Allard by winning the $22,500 fast-class handicap pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday in 1:50.1.
 
Hellabalou, a son of Sweet Lou, was hustled out of the gate by Allard and to the lead, causing Komodo Beach, the 1-5 favorite after tying the season’s mark of 1:48.4 at Philly in his last start, to have to land in fourth as insiders defended early position. Hellabalou got to the quarter in :26.3, benefited from a big breather for this kind when he reached the half in :55.3, then continued on to a 1:22.4 three-quarters. Komodo Beach was put into play late on the backstretch and motored home in :53.4 - :26.3, but he still came up 1½ lengths shy of the winner.
 
Eric Good purchased Hellabalou as a yearling in 2019, and had been the sole owner of the horse until he was joined in partnership with Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Lawrence Karr less than a week ago. Hellabalou now has lifetime earnings of $470,794.
 
An Allard-driven horse also knocked off a 1-5 shot in the $16,200 distaff pacing co-feature, as the Rockin Image mare Grace Rocks sat in the pocket behind Scarlett Hanover’s fractions of :27, :56, and 1:23.2, then outfooted that one late to win by 3½ lengths in 1:50.3 for trainer Dean Eckley and owner Howard Taylor. 
 
The big story in this race, though, was the heavily-fancied Mikala, conqueror of Test Of Faith in a Graduate leg with a :25 last quarter, who was bet heavily despite a 20-day absence. Mikala was well-placed second-over behind High Minded as that one challenged hard for the lead on the far turn, but then High Minded took a couple of non-straight steps and got into Mikala as that one started to edge wide, causing her to make an interference break and also scattering the rest of the field. High Minded would be placed last.
 
Simon Allard would win the last race on the card to give him five on the day, two of them for trainer Jeff Cullipher, who harnessed three winners on the Friday card.
 
A mammoth 16-race card Sunday at Philly will contain the last preliminary leg for the two-year-old trotting fillies in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series, with the top pointwinners in the PaSS joining their fellow top two-year-olds on a $1M+ Championship at Philly a week from Sunday, on September 4. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html. 

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – She had already established her credentials by winning the first two starts of her career, both Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, in 1:51 and 1:50.2, the latter time within a fifth of a second of the world record. 
 
But the Captaintreacherous – Stonebridge Sundae two-year-old Beach Cowgirl then had been scratched sick, and went into Thursday’s final PaSS preliminary leg at Harrah’s Philadelphia having not raced in 39 days. How would she respond to the illness and lack of a recent start?
 
Very nicely, thank you, as she won over a very good Hello Yes Hi in 1:51.4, establishing herself as the horse to beat in her September 4’s $250,000 PaSS Championship at Philly – and perhaps on even greater stages after that.
 
Driver Joe Bongiorno got Beach Cowgirl, starting from post two, around Proud Mary to her inside early in the Sires contest, then yielded to Hello Yes Hi, who had been favored in every flash of the betting until the last one off two straight successes including a 1:52.4 PaSS win. Hello Yes Hi (Tim Tetrick) hit the quarter in :27.2 and must have shown no signs of wanting to yield, as Bongiorno (and perhaps Dexter Dunn behind Proud Mary) seem to rethink quarter moves, allowing Hello Yes Hi to get a breather to the half in :56.3. 
 
Down the backstretch longshots (despite both already having marks of 1:54 or less) Daffled Hanover and Ginger Tree Coco advanced, but after the 1:24.1 three-quarters it seemed apparent that the race was going to be decided by the three leavers. Hello Yes Hi went on strongly, and Proud Mary angled out, but it was Beach Cowgirl, taking the inner route, who got the big check by a neck over Hello Yes Hi in 1:51.4, with Proud Mary third. Trainer Jennifer Bongiorno had brought back the Team’s special filly in winning form for Joseph Di Scala Jr., Zippett Racing Stable, Scarlett Stables LLC, and JAF Racing LLC.
 
Though Beach Cowgirl won three Sire Stakes starts, she was not the leading pointwinner in her division, as the Captaintreacherous – My Little Delight filly My Little Captain ran her Sire Stakes record to 4-3-1-0 by taking a new mark of 1:52.2 in her cut, like the others worth $54,586. Tim Tetrick made two speed moves with My Little Captain during opening fractions of :28 and :57, then started the sprint home, hitting the three-quarters in 1:25 before tacking on a :27.2 kicker in winning by 1¼ lengths over Mind Blowing. Andrew Stafford trains the talented two-year-old for EVM Racing LLC.
 
In the third Sires event, the Stay Hungry – Venus Delight filly My Hungry Girl also earned a new mark after a 1:53.2 mile. Yannick Gingras made the lead with the winner in a :28.1 opener, then yielded to favored Absolute Power and tailed that one through midsplits of :57 and 1:25.1 before tipping her outside. My Hungry Girl took her cue and took off for a 2¼ length victory over the chalk for trainer Ron Burke and owner Brad Grant, her first win since breaking her maiden in her career debut.
 
There were also three $20,000 divisions of Stallion Stakes events, with those fillies also seeking to earn points and qualify for their Championship, to be held at Pocono the day after the PaSS Championships at Philly. Assuring herself of a spot was the leading prelim pointwinner Little Lady J, a daughter of A Rocknroll Dance – Monet’s Lilly who now has three of her North American division-leading seven victories in StS action, this one in a new mark of 1:53.4 for driver David Miller and owner/trainer Mitchell York.
 
Trainer Nifty Norman won the other two Stallion Series divisions with maidens, one being the Always B Miki – Fit To Frame miss Falana Hanover, who won in 1:54.3 as the favorite for driver Dexter Dunn and owners Pinske Stables, Enzed Racing Stable Inc., Lawrence Means, and Jerry Kovach. The other – and fastest – divisional winner was as far pari-mutuelly from Falana Hanover as can be imagined, as Victor Kirby rallied the Heston Blue Chip – Moonlight Spin filly Romantic Evening through a late-developing  seam and was along in 1:53.3 for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC while paying $109.20 to her scattered backers. This was the second day in a row that driver Victor Kirby had brought in a $100+ winner at Philly.
 
Even Sire Stakes don’t totally derail “Trottin’ Thursday” in southeast Pennsylvania, and the $22,500 handicap trot provided an exciting finish – and vindication for the Race Office – as the $1,794,699 winner Amigo Volo, assigned the outside post eight, became only the seventh horse in 1087 races at Philly this year to rally from as far back as third-over, defeating Incommunicado by a head in 1:53.2, with Storm Is Raging only another head back in third. Trainer Nifty Norman got his third winner of the day with the Dexter Dunn-driven Father Patrick gelding, who is owned by Pinske Stables and David J. Miller.
 
Tim Tetrick boosted his season-leading win total at the track with four first-place finishes.
 
The fast-class pacers return to their new Harrah’s home of Friday, with the $22,500 feature event handicapping Komodo Beach, who in his last start equaled the fastest local clocking of the year at 1:48.4, to the outermost slot. Sunday will see two-year-old trotting fillies in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action; Harrah’s Philly will be hosting all four of divisions during the $1M Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship Day for the freshmen on Sunday, September 4. Program pages are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html. 

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Four $12,600 divisions of a conditioned event for up-and-coming horses featured on the Wednesday afternoon card at Harrah’s Philadelphia – along with an occasional blowing-up of the tote board.
 
In a trotting feature, the Detour Hanover three-year-old filly You’re Dead To Me was a winner for the second straight week, making the lead in front of the grandstand and going on to victory in 1:57, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Cocktail Fashion. Daniel Dube had the sulky seat for trainer John and owner/brother Tom Cancelliere.
 
Distaff pacers had their own division of the featured class, taken by Fifth Fav in a lifetime best 1:54.1. The sophomore daughter of A Rocknroll Dance started uncovered at the half, then followed the cover of Stand For Freedom until that one crossed over to the lead to the three-quarters and continued on past her in the stretch by 1¼ lengths for driver Billy Carter and trainer/owner Tyler Jump.
 
Pacing males comprised the field in the remaining two sections of the four-ply feature. In one, the Sunshine Beach three-year-old gelding Effingham rode the cover of favored Wheresjim to the three-quarters, where that one took the lead, then wore him down late to post a head decision in a lifetime best of 1:53.1. Johnathan Ahle drove the winner of two of his last three for trainer Michael Shults and Blazer One Racing.
 
In the other top-level event for pacing males, Pompeo Hanover, 9½ lengths back at the half, commenced a steady gain towards the top past the midpoint of the backstretch and caught 1-10 favorite Katies Best by a half length in a lifetime best 1:52.3 for trainer Jake Leamon and owner Marvin Rounick. Driving the winning Betting Line gelding to the $52.40 upset victory was Troy Beyer, who tied Tony Morgan and Trae Porter at the top of the $50+ winners column at four each.
 
But that payoff was just a baby shark compared to the surprise posted by a fellow three-year-old Betting Line gelding, Yo A J. This one, making his first career start, came from an even more distant cloud, 10¼ lengths back at the half, to circle his field in 1:55.2 for driver Victory Kirby and trainer Kathleen La Montagne, co-owner with Donald La Montagne. Yo A J light up the board with a $164.80 win mutuel, the second-biggest one of the Harrah’s season behind the $166.40 return resulting from Allyoucanbet’s victory on May 27.
 
Daniel Dube had four driving wins on the day; Marcus Miller and Tim Tetrick each visited the winners circle three times.
 
On Thursday, the Pennsylvania-sired two-year-old pacing fillies will have their final chance to gain points to make their upcoming Sire Stakes and Stallion Series Championships (Philly hosts the freshman Championship during a $1M card on Sunday, September 4). The Sire Stakes fillies will see the sensational Beach Cowgirl return to the races after winning her first two starts in 1:51 and then 1:50.2, the latter clocking only a fifth of a second off the world record. However, she has been off 39 days since that last win, and it will be interesting to see how she rebounds from the time away on Thursday. The card also contains a $22,500 fast-class trot and a carryover of $1207.23 into the fifth race’s Pick-5 bet. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.     

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Before a rainshower changed the track at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono from “fast” to “sloppy,” Candy Trader and Captain Cook were victorious in the $13,000 pacing features on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Candy Trader was the heavy favorite in his division, and the Bettor’s Delight gelding made a big move in front of the stands to get control of the racetrack for Pocono’s leading driver, Matt Kakaley. Candy Trader shook off a persistent first-over attacker, then stayed clear by 1¾ lengths over pocketsitter My Boy Jack in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1. Jennifer Bongiorno trained the winner for owners Glenn Goller, Abraham Basen, and David Postman, but the horse will be going to a new barn after a $27,500 claim.
 
The win of Captain Cook was an “opposite” of Candy Trader’s in most ways. The Captaintreacherous gelding, sent off at 11-1, was sixth at the half under the guidance of driver Marcus Miller, but he swung wide off cover for the stretch and held off Warrawee Xtreme, also in the wide flow, by a length in 1:54.1. A new lifetime mark was about the only thing Captain Cook shared with Candy Trader, including the fact that “the Captain” would be going “home” to familiar surroundings, those of trainer Bruce Clarke, co-owner with Patricia Waldeck.
 
The rain came by the time for the two $12,500 trotting co-features, making for off going. The faster clocking of 1:55 was recorded by the Explosive Matter gelding Sortie, who came uncovered down the back, rushed to the lead, and won by himself in 1:55. Braxten Boyd drove the winner of $429,830 for trainer Steven Brabrook and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
 
In the other top trot, the Conway Hall mare Sweet Heart AS started a three-wide sweep late in the backstretch and just kept on gaining to get home in 1:56, a half length ahead of pocketsitter Keegan Ho. Marcus Miller, top driver on the day with four visits to the winners circle, guided the distaff to the success for trainer Linda Schadel, co-owner with husband Tony Schadel.
 
Pocono will be back in action on Saturday at 1:30, with the likes of Backstreet Shadow, J M Mandamin, and Jack’s Legend N squaring off in the $25,000 fast-class pacing feature. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.