Wilkes-Barre, PA — A pair of high-level conditioned events and a starter allowance headline Saturday’s (Feb. 18) 2023 season opener at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Sun Pennsylvania, which is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
The card’s twin features are $17,000 events for non-winners of eight races, with trotters squaring off in race seven and pacers meeting in race 11.
In the trot, Crescent Beauty returns to action after finishing her sophomore campaign with three straight victories to bring her seasonal total to 16, making her the joint leader in victories among North American 3-year-old trotters. After not racing since November, the 4-year-old Crescent Fashion mare will have to negotiate post seven in an eight-horse field for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Lance Hudson and owner William Hartt.
In the pace, the main contenders are the Sweet Lou gelding Phoenix Of Fluzzy (driven by Simon Allard), who has three wins in his last four starts at the Meadowlands, and the Captaintreacherous gelding Mind Hunter (George Napolitano Jr.), who is perfect in four starts since teaming up with trainer Per Engblom, including a 1:49.3 victory last time out.
There is also a $16,500 starter allowance for pacers, with half of the eight-horse field showing victories for a tag of $30,000 or more on their past performance lines.
Pocono held 11 qualifying races on Monday (Feb. 13); another set of morning races will be held Tuesday (Feb. 14).
Splash Brother held off a spirited late charge by Caviart Max to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1, the fastest pacing mile of the session. A winner of $658,116, Tyler Buter handled the So Surreal gelding for trainer Ray Schnittker, who also shares ownership with Nolamaura Racing LLC, Steven Arnold and Tammy Flannery.
The quickest winner on the trot was the Class Included gelding Breckenridge, who rallied from the pocket to overhaul pacesetting Knights Guard by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55.1 for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Lance Hudson and owner William Hartt.
Though neither of the fastest horses on their gait is entered back for Saturday’s opening card, five qualifying winners will be competing on the opening day card.
Replays of qualifiers and program pages (once published) can be viewed on the PHHA’s website all season long.