Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Explosive Matter gelding Sortie made an explosive move around the second turn to the lead, then went on to capture Tuesday’s (June 21) $12,500 featured trot at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:54.2.

Driver Braxten Boyd had Sortie in midpack as they field passed the stands. Sensing a slow pace, he got his trotter fired up quickly and moved him to the lead entering the backstretch. A :27.2 third-quarter burst left all but favorite Vic’s Winner well behind, and through the stretch, Sortie kept his only rival at bay, winning by 1-3/4 lengths for trainer Steve Brabrook and owner Jaypaul Hoover while boosting his career earnings to $417,805.

Sortie was safely clear at the wire at the end of Tuesday’s featured trot at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Two-year-old trotters made their first pari-mutuel starts at The Downs on Tuesday. Trainer-driver Tom Jackson kept the Trixton-Ophelia colt Optrix rolling after advancing first-over on the backstretch, scoring a 1:59.4 decision by a nose over favorite Scotty Deo, with closer Kobe B just a head away in third. Jackson also co-owns the gritty colt with Tyler Gunderson, Jenna Cornelison and Howard Taylor.

The winner in the filly race went even quicker: The International Moni-Seaside miss Tipsy Moni put up a 1:58.4 mile, using two :29.1 back quarters to complete the engine victory. Tyler Buter drove the precocious youngster, who had won both her qualifiers in 2:02, for owner-trainer D.R. Ackerman.

George Napolitano Jr. swept the late double to handle four winners on the day; Matt Kakaley won three races. The two are now tied at the top of the Pocono drivers win standings at 116.

Saturday’s (June 25) 1:30 p.m. card at Pocono features a $27,500 winners-over pace, with Little Brown Jug winner Southwind Ozzi looking for his sixth win in his last seven starts, but needing to overcome the outside post eight. On Sunday (June 26), over $200,000 in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action is highlighted by divisional leader Treacherous Dragon, fresh off her win in the Fan Hanover final. Program pages will be available on the PHHA website.