By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
WILKES-BARRE PA— On Tuesday afternoon Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured a pair of $16,000 for two-year-olds pacer, one on each gait, with both winners breaking their maiden with a 1:54 tally.
Papi’s Bride, a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover – Native Bride trained by Hunter Oakes,, was hustled away from the gate by Brian Sears, co-owner with Kim Chiaramonte Sears, got to the front mid-first turn, then yielded to sit the pocket behind another daughter of Papi Rob Hanover, Happy Papi, by the :28.2 quarter. Those two continued as pacesetter and pocketsitter through midfractions of :57.2 and 1:25.3, then Sears tipped Papi’s Bride out nearing headstretch and paced to the front by 1¾ lengths under the wire, with Happy Papi saving the place by a neck over Missneverdonowrong.
Harbaugh, a colt by Downbytheseaside – Hometown Blues, had missed 30 days since his last race, but trainer Travis Alexander had him primed for victory. Matt Kakaley gradually worked the baby to the front by a :27.4 quarter, got a breather to a :57.4 half, then kept increasing the speed, coming his third quarter in :28.2 to keep outside challenges at bay, then still kicking home in :27.2 to hold off potential pocket rocket The Tile Guy by a half length for Fiddler’s Creek Stable.
There was a $15,500 trot for up-and-coming horses, and the Tactical Landing sophomore colt Pine Bush Landau, despite 2-3-2 finishes since coming to this company, was allowed to reward his backers at 24-1 while lowering his mark to 1:54.2. Pine Bush Landing, trained by Agostino Abbatiello for Durazzano Stable, took charge early and made every pole a winning one in completing the upset.
Pine Bush Landau was driven by Anthony Napolitano, second in the Pocono meet standings, and joint-first in number of $50+ winners produced during the meet. In this category he is tied with the only sulkysitter ahead of him in the dash standings, Tyler Buter – how often do you see the top two drivers at a meet also being the top pair in terms of longshot production? Buter and Napolitano were joined by Matt Kakaley in notching a Tuesday driving double.
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday at 1 p.m., with an $18,500 pace for the fast-class brigade and a $17,500 trot for developing horses. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
WILKES-BARRE PA— On Tuesday afternoon Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured a pair of $16,000 for two-year-olds pacer, one on each gait, with both winners breaking their maiden with a 1:54 tally.
Papi’s Bride, a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover – Native Bride trained by Hunter Oakes,, was hustled away from the gate by Brian Sears, co-owner with Kim Chiaramonte Sears, got to the front mid-first turn, then yielded to sit the pocket behind another daughter of Papi Rob Hanover, Happy Papi, by the :28.2 quarter. Those two continued as pacesetter and pocketsitter through midfractions of :57.2 and 1:25.3, then Sears tipped Papi’s Bride out nearing headstretch and paced to the front by 1¾ lengths under the wire, with Happy Papi saving the place by a neck over Missneverdonowrong.
Harbaugh, a colt by Downbytheseaside – Hometown Blues, had missed 30 days since his last race, but trainer Travis Alexander had him primed for victory. Matt Kakaley gradually worked the baby to the front by a :27.4 quarter, got a breather to a :57.4 half, then kept increasing the speed, coming his third quarter in :28.2 to keep outside challenges at bay, then still kicking home in :27.2 to hold off potential pocket rocket The Tile Guy by a half length for Fiddler’s Creek Stable.
There was a $15,500 trot for up-and-coming horses, and the Tactical Landing sophomore colt Pine Bush Landau, despite 2-3-2 finishes since coming to this company, was allowed to reward his backers at 24-1 while lowering his mark to 1:54.2. Pine Bush Landing, trained by Agostino Abbatiello for Durazzano Stable, took charge early and made every pole a winning one in completing the upset.
Pine Bush Landau was driven by Anthony Napolitano, second in the Pocono meet standings, and joint-first in number of $50+ winners produced during the meet. In this category he is tied with the only sulkysitter ahead of him in the dash standings, Tyler Buter – how often do you see the top two drivers at a meet also being the top pair in terms of longshot production? Buter and Napolitano were joined by Matt Kakaley in notching a Tuesday driving double.
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday at 1 p.m., with an $18,500 pace for the fast-class brigade and a $17,500 trot for developing horses. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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