Wilkes-Barre, PA — Endofstory brushed to the lead past the quarter – and, boom, end of story. He won Tuesday’s (Aug. 13) $17,000 pacing feature at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania in a lifetime best 1:49.4.
The victorious 3-year-old Lazarus N gelding came after early leader I Was Tricked near the :27 quarter, hit the half in :55.3, held off first-over Girldad to the 1:23 three-quarters, then marched home in :26.4 to have 2-1/2 lengths on that rival at the finish. Matt Kakaley handled the winning Yonkers shipper for trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. and owners David Linker, Brian Loman, Robert Venable and Kyle Warren.
Lovers Trouble also used a pace-controlling move after the quarter and then held off repeated challengers to take the $15,000 co-featured pace, also posting a lifetime best 1:49.4. The triumphant Tellitlikeitis gelding has now won his last three starts at Pocono, with Tyler Buter aboard for Tuesday’s victory for trainer Joe Bongiorno and the partnership of JB Racing and Evans Nation.
Tioga invader Stewardoftheland moved into the barn of Lisa Martin for owner David Koslowsky and posted the fastest clocking of the day, 1:49.1, with an 8-1/4-length victory for driver Braxten Boyd.
Anthony Napolitano was the leading pilot on the day with four wins; Matt Kakaley scored a hat trick and doubled his meet lead over George Napolitano Jr., who had two, to 188-186.
The morning lines have been established for Saturday’s (Aug. 17) $2.3 million Sun Stakes Saturday supercard at Pocono. Favored in the top-money races for sophomores are Legendary Hanover (Hempt colt pace), Rocket Deo (Lynch filly pace), T C I (Beal colt trot), and Elista Hanover (Delmonica Hanover filly trot). The Saturday card, which begins at 2:30 p.m., also has an Invitational on both gaits, for which the early favorites are Jiggy Jog S (Sebastian K S Invitational trot) and Voukefalas (Always B Miki Invitational pace). Free Pocono programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.