WILKES-BARRE PA – Trotters were in the Monday afternoon spotlight at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with two $15,000 divisions of a trot for developing horses the features.
The faster winner of the highlight events was the E L Titan sophomore gelding Super Duper Cooper, undefeated in two 2024 starts after setting a new mark of 1:55.1 Monday. Owned by Timothy Craig, James Crawford IV, and Carl Austin Jr., Super Duper Cooper overcame a first-over journey by going his back half in :56.1, winning by 4½ lengths.
Super Duper Cooper was one of three winners on the card for trainer John Butenschoen, who tallied with three different drivers. The three-year-old was driven by Jason Bartlett, who also won three times, all for different trainers; Bartlett tied for the day’s sulky honors with Tyler Buter, who also won for three different trainers, including Butenschoen.
The other feature had a much closer finish, with winner Can Have It All coming from seventh and last at the half to win by a head over Stars Over Dover, with the first five finishers within 1¾ lengths at the wire. The victorious altered sophomore son of Cantab Hall took a new record of 1:58.2 for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Peter Pellegrino and Room4040 LLC Stables.
Two Tactical Landing sophomore geldings posted fast clockings in lower-rung races: Reggianito won his second straight while lowering his mark for 1:55.2 for trainer Butenschoen, driver Matt Kakaley, and the ownership of Berg Brothers Racing LLC and Rich Preziotti, while Naked Cowboy broke his maiden in 1:55.4 for driver Anibal Borjas and trainer Tony Alagna, the latter co-owner with Geoffrey Dubrowsky.
A pair of $16,000 paces head the Tuesday afternoon 1 p.m. card at Pocono, with a Superfecta carryover helping the pool in the day’s first race. On Saturday, the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes “glamour division,” the three-year-old pacing males, will come to town in four divisions, with last year’s freshman champion Captain Albano making his seasonal debut and 2023 Breeders Crown winner Gem Quality looking to follow up on his Pennsylvania All-Stars victory earlier this racing week; they will not be facing each other (for now anyway).
Free Pocono programs are available at www.phha.org.