Wilkes-Barre, PA – As Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania held the first of nine Sunday twilight cards to be raced every week through the end of July, The Hazelton pushed hard early to protect the pocket behind favorite Inquisitive Dan, then came up the Pocono Pike to catch the leader and win the $13,500 featured trot in 1:54 (May 31).
There were five horses looking for position out of the gate, but the early duel boiled down to The Hazelton, who started from the rail, and Inquisitive Dan, who took the throttle off the first turn and was responsible for fractions of :27.4, :56.4, and 1:25.4. The Hazelton, a Muscle Mass gelding coming to Pocono from Yonkers, enjoyed his ride in the golden seat, then was directed inside by driver Tyler Buter and worked by the leader by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Ron Burke, who also won a division of the feature in southeast Pennsylvania (Philly) on Sunday, and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
The Hazelton was the second betting choice, which was little surprise (he won at the Gotham track two starts back), but Buter and Burke also combined for the biggest-priced winner of the program, the $30.60 returned by OK My Way. It’s amazing that a driver and trainer of such stature who team so frequently continue to generate high prices – they are still respectively the leading driver and trainer of 50-plus horses at the meet.
“B And B” were among the horseperson doublers on the night, a group which included driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainers Peter Pellegrino and Veronica Spicer.
Monday’s (June 1) 1 p.m. program at Pocono will be topped by a $27,500 fast-class handicap pace for top females. There will also be the start of a new Game Of Claims Series, this one in its first prelim finding three fields of horses base-tagged for $15,000 racing for an $11,000 purse. The card will also feature a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 wager. Free Pocono programs pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.