WILKES-BARRE PA – The veteran Kadabra gelding Buzz, a confirmed frontstepping trotter, took a little longer than usual to get the lead in the $12,500 feature on Tuesday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. But once he did get the front he proved uncatchable, holding off the favorite Bank Box Treasure by a neck in 1:55.1.
Regular driver Jim Pantaleano had to settle for a 3-tuck early with Buzz as BC’S Rose and Miss Muscle argued to a :27.1 quarter, but the speed-favoring winner of $426,424 was on the move in front of the stands and got the top before a :57 half. Bank Box Treasure came up first-over to test Buzz much of the last half-mile, but past the 1:25.2 three-quarters and through the lane Buzz was able to hold off the chalk.
Tyler Buter and George Napolitano Jr. each drove three winners on the Tuesday card; two of Buter’s came from the in-form barn of trainer John Butenschoen.
Racing resumes on Saturday at Pocono, with the 1:30 card featuring a $17,500 fast-class feature for each gait. Sunday’s 5:00 program will be highlighted by the first Pennsylvania All-Stars action of 2022, with two divisions of three-year-old pacing fillies each going for $35,000. Leading the sophomores will be Treacherous Dragon, a top filly from last year who prepped for her seasonal bow by defeating last year’s divisional champion Niki Hill in a qualifier at The Meadowlands. Program pages will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.