Wilkes-Barre, PA — Sensational, coming to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania after stops at Plainridge and Lexington, combined his principal two traits as of late – extreme speed and going off stride – and managed to rally to a dramatic 1:56.4 victory in one of two $15,500 divisions of Tuesday’s (Oct. 14) featured trot at the mountain oval over “good” going in cool temperatures.
Matt Kakaley, driving for trainer George Ducharme and the partnership of George Ducharme Stable LLC and Bill Donovan, eased Sensational away from the gate and was looking to spot him fifth just past midway on the first turn when the 3-year-old Greenshoe gelding lost stride. Kalaley got Sensational back on gait by the bottom of the turn, then gave him the “go forward strongly” signal, and the youngster went from the back of the field to the lead before the half. After that, no one posed a threat to the winner, who was three lengths to the good of Non Disclosure at the finish after coming his own last split in :28.4.
In the other feature, the Archangel gelding Stevie Ray did not have quite as adventurous a trip as Sensational, but driver Jim Pantaleano had to be alert to help the trotter find the winning journey in a 2:00 mile. Stevie Ray made the lead, yielded for the pocket, then had to back out into the two-wide flow as the outer tier threatened the pacesetter late on the backstretch. Swinging wide in the lane, Stevie Ray went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Counter Spy for trainer David Hoover and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
George Napolitano Jr. led all drivers with three wins, including two for trainer Jill Roland; Matt Kakaley, Anthony Napolitano and Jack Pelling had driving doubles. David Hoover drove another of his trainees to victory as well as conditioning co-feature winner Stevie Ray, joining Roland as training doublers.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (Oct. 18) with a 1 p.m. card; there will be a carryover into the superfecta in the first race and the Hi-5 in the last. Monday and Tuesday’s (Oct. 20-21) cards will feature a pair of John Simpson Sr. Memorial Stakes on each day. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.