Wilkes-Barre PA — After one of the most exciting stretch battles of the season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Typhoon Banner N emerged the winner in a three-horse photo, with his 1:48.4 new mark also the fastest mile of 2024 at Pocono.

Congressional took advantage of the rail and forced Pat McGarry N to finally retreat to the two-hole long after a :26.2 opener, then continued on to the half in :54.3. There was certainly no breather down the back, as favored Boiling Oar roared up uncovered to challenge and even gained a slight advantage to a 1:21.2 three-quarters.

Typhoon Banner N emerged the winner in a three-horse photo. Curtis Salonick photo.

One thing Boiling Oar did not have, though, was the rail, as Congressional refused to let him clear on past. Typhoon Banner N, a Bettor’s Delight gelding, was perfectly-placed off the front battle as the second-over, tipped wide in the lane, and wore down the embattled leaders late for driver Ridge Warren, with Boiling Oar a head behind the winner and a head ahead of third-place Congressional.

Typhoon Banner N has now won two straight and four of his last six, with Joe Bongiorno doing the training for JB Racing, Philip Steinberg, and Barbara Bongiorno Stable.

Top purse events were a duo of $17,000 contests for developing trotters.

The faster was won by the Pitagora Bi mare Cristal Trio IT, who popped out of the pocket near the three-quarters, took immediate command and drew clear while reducing her mark to 1:52.4 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander, and Tar Heel Racing.

The Muscle Mass gelding Deadline Hall accounted for the other top trot, moving first-over and grinding down pacesetter AP Hall Of Trix in 1:54.3. This was one of three successful collaborations on the day for driver George Napolitano Jr., Pocono’s top trainer Jeff Cullipher, and the ownership of Pollack Racing. “George Nap” would wind up with four victories on the day in total.

After Pocono’s Sunday night card at 6 p.m., 2-year-olds will be seeing stakes action on Monday and Tuesday during the 1 p.m. programs, with four $30,000 divisions of Pennsylvania All-Star races each day, for colt pacers on Monday and filly trotters on Tuesday. Free Pocono programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.