Wilkes-Barre, PA — Noses, closers, and upsets were the order of the day at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday evening (July 28), especially in the two feature races.
In the top event, a $15,000 trot, the Southwind Frank gelding Songs In The Wind, who had been better than fifth at the quarter only once on his charted lines, wound up in the pocket, behind slow fractions of :28.2, :59.1, and 1:28.1.
![](https://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Songs-In-The-Wind-072824.jpg)
The tempo, and the competition, certainly picked up in the stretch, with Songs In The Wind using the famed Pocono Pike to win a four-horse photo in a career-best 1:56.2, himself coming home in :27.4 for trainer Richard Titter, co-owner with Susan Titter. International Gift swung widest and was just a nose off Songs In The Wind and a half-length ahead of pacesetter The Moment, who in turn was a neck ahead of fourth-place finisher and favorite Sister Diane.
For driver Braxten Boyd, the $51.60 mutuel was his fifth “bomber” ($50-plus) of the meet, the youngster showing he can do a lot with horses not particularly fancied.
In a $14,000 co-featured pace for distaffs, it was the Stay Hungry sophomore filly Shanghai Star who shone brightest by a nose, the 7-1 winner edging out 47-1 maiden American Starlight while taking a new mark of 1:53.1.
In this back-and-forth event, Shanghai Star was the first leader and then the fifth and final leader, backing out from the rail and coming off American Starlight’s cover for trainer Mark Ford and All Star Racing Inc.
Shanghai Star was the fifth success story of the evening for driver Matt Kakaley, and watching him and George Napolitano Jr. battle at the top of the standings is like watching a heavyweight prizefight, with Napolitano racking up five scores when Kakaley was at The Meadows Saturday, and then Kakaley answering that punch with a five-spot of his own Sunday. Only one of Kakaley’s five winners was favored. Matt reduced George’s lead to 169-166.
Monday and Tuesday cards will be held here starting at 1 p.m. Free Pocono programs will be available at www.phha.org.