Fast times at Pocono Downs

WILKES-BARRE PA – Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured five $16,500 harness racing events for Standardbreds of all types on Saturday afternoon (Jul. 1).

The fast-class pace produced the quickest mile of the day, taken by Joesstar Of Mia A (Roll With Joe) in 1:49.1.

Matt Kakaley hustled the veteran right to the top and went right along quickly, proving best by three-quarters of a length over Ilikemebettor A, who was narrowing from the pocket. Gareth Dowse conditions the winner for his own Dowse Racing Inc.

JOESSTAR OF MIA A REPLAY

In the fast-class event for trotters, Kenziesky Hanover (Cantab Hall) moved to the lead in front of the stands, drew clear of her opposition on the turn, then was an easy 1¾ length winner over favored first-over Donato Patriot K in 1:53. George Napolitano Jr. drove the mare for trainer Jeff Cullipher, co-owner with Pollack Racing LLC.

KENZIESKY HANOVER REPLAY

Three of the features were for high-priced claiming horses. The division for older horses saw Urban Renewal (Cam’s Card Shark) come on after scalding fractions to take a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2 at age ten – his third win in his last four starts in this class, all at 11-1 or more. Ridge Warren engineered the upset for trainer Mike Watson and Friendship Stables LLC. That race also saw Elwell, a 15-time winner in 2022-23, claimed for $40,000, believed to tie the track record for highest-priced claim.

URBAN RENEWAL REPLAY

There were two claiming divisions for younger horses. Gentle Giant (JK Endofanera) won one despite using tactics that were polar opposite from those of Urban Renewal – Tyler Buter (a four-time winner on the day) sent this horse to the front and fought off three separate challenges to also record a time of 1:50.2. Jason Brewer is trainer and co-owner with Kirk Nichols and Thomas Gillis.

GENTLE GIANT REPLAY

The other younger claimer event fell to Dance Partner (A Rocknroll Dance) who turned into a pocket rocket late to run down favored leader JK Objection in 1:51.4 for driver Anthony Napolitano and owners Alma Iafelice, Vincent Ali Jr., and Lawrence Miller. This win was one of three on the day for trainer Bill MacKenzie, with the other two success stories in 1:50 or less – 2019 Little Brown Jug winner Southwind Ozzi (1:49.4) and Captain Fancy (1:50).

DANCE PARTNER REPLAY

There will be racing at Pocono at 6 p.m. on the holiday Sunday; at 1 p.m. Monday on a card that features Pennsylvania All-Stars action for two-year-old trotting colts; and on the Fourth itself, the Tuesday card also starting at 1 p.m. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Pocono