Wilkes-Barre, PA — The temperature was only slightly warmer than recently on Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Still, many of the times were noticeably quicker, led by the 1:49 posted by Oakwood Heymiki IR in the $17,500 pacing side of the feature class for developing horses.
The altered son of Always B Miki gave his many backers a bit of a scare last week when he went offstride near the wire, but did not violate the rules so was left up. This week Tyler Buter quarter-moved from fourth with the fleet import and there was no bobble at all, just a pair of :27.1 back quarters that left the winner of three of his last four 6-3/4 lengths clear under the line for trainer Bob Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc and with a new lifetime mile record.
The trotting co-feature went to the Lionhunter gelding Kovu AS (Anthony Napolitano), only one for 33 on the year coming into the race but dead game on the engine today to ward off potential pocket rocket Chuckthemillionair by a neck in a lifetime best 1:55. Kovu AS was driven by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Anthony Faulkner and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
Another sub-1:50 mile was rung up in the $16,000 claiming handicap pace by the Courtly Choice ridgling Spring Blake, victorious in four of his last six and here earning a new speed badge of 1:49.1. Buter again drove a far-clear winner (6-1/4 lengths) for trainer Cory Stratton and owner Caldwell Marnie Racing LLC – who had just claimed the horse for $37,500 last week and just as quickly lost him back to a claim. Spring Blake was one of three winners changing hands after their race on a day when there were seven claims in all, for $152,500 (the meet figures are 378 claims for $7,625,625).
There were two $13,500 fast-class contests, one on each gait, and following recent trends there was a big upset winner in them both. The Bar Hopping gelding Showman Hanover could save his move for late in the mile, then finished with a burst to nose out favored Kinnder Thinktwice while taking a lifetime mark of 1:53 and paying $94.40. Jordan Stratton had the drive for trainer Richard Aiken and Arden Homestead Stable.
The fast-class pace was the last race on the card, and in a dramatic finish the Sweet Lou gelding Dream Bird came from last at the stretch call to catch the chalk I Did It Myway (Kakaley) in 1:51.4 for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., David Wills, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Dream Bird had no wins but seven seconds this year before his upset, which helps to explain the $120.60 win price.
The following two facts, however, help that explanation in no way, for Dream Bird was driven by the meet’s leading driver, Tyler Buter, and is trained by the meet’s leading trainer, Ron Burke. Buter and Burke are the only horsemen to have two $100+ winners this meet, as they combined as well with The Bizzness N ($112.40) on October 21. Burke is also the only conditioner to have four $50+ bombers at Pocono this year. (Yes, the same guy who broke the one-season money record for a barn on Thursday.)
With Dream Bird’s upset coming in the final event, there will be a carryover – now a double carryover – into Monday’s last race High-5 pool. Monday at Pocono will also feature three divisions of the Winter Is Coming Pacing Series. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.