Wilkes-Barre, PA — American Fling got a perfect trip then struck the front late to win Saturday afternoon’s (Aug. 1) $18,500 fast-class pacing feature at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania in a lifetime best 1:48.4.
American Fling, an American Ideal gelding, was the innermost of three hard leavers, with Goliath Hanover just outside him and favored Congressional widest of all. When Goliath Hanover made a break trying to reach the top, he recovered quickly and tucked third. Meanwhile, American Fling yielded command to Congressional, who paid a :26 price to control the throttle.
And an even bigger price would soon come due: Goliath Hanover shifted into high gear soon off the first bend in another effort to get to the top, but Congressional denied him that, and the fractions were white-hot: :53 to the half and 1:20.3 to the three-quarters. American Fling had the best view of the titanic tussle from the pocket.
Turning for home, Ridge Warren moved American Fling outside, but the vaunted tenacity of Congressional was in evidence again, as he went on gallantly despite the extra energy expenditure. It was only past mid-stretch that American Fling could get his nose in front, and that is all the margin he could gain – but it was enough to get him the fat end of the check for trainer Randy Bendis, who shares ownership with Pollack Racing LLC.
The $16,000 co-feature for fast-class pacers saw the Believeinbruiser gelding Big Bang Bang overcome a rough trip to win his second straight race, here in 1:50.2. Brett Beckwith tried to leave for early position but quickly scuttled those thoughts as three inside him left; favored Holt Hanover won the war for pace control and set fractions of :26.4, :55.4, and 1:23. Beckwith advanced behind cover with Big Bang Bang then lost his cover on the far turn, but the Darren Taneyhill trainee still ground the pacesetter by a neck, pacing his own last split in :27, for owner Carmen Iannacone.
Driver Matt Kakaley won both $17,500 contests for horses on the rise, one on each gait. In the pace, Gentleman’s Club, a Downbytheseaside sophomore colt who finished third — missing by just a head — in the Meadowlands Pace in his previous start, sat in the pocket behind 31-1 shot No Tresspassing, who carved out splits of :27, :55 and 1:21.3, then moved out on the turn and eventually worked to the lead to win the 1:48.3 mile. The long shot fought on gamely, making Gentleman’s Club come home in :26.3 for the length victory for trainer Aaron Lambert and owner Anthony LiCastro.
A race earlier, the Walner gelding Night Phantom visited Victory Lane for the third time in four starts, going wire-to-wire in :27.4, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before winning in 1:53 for trainer Anthony Faulkner and owner Jaypaul Hoover. Also eye-catching though defeated were Captain Jordan, who trotted his own back half in :55.4 uncovered to be just a neck back at the finish, and favorite Kierkegaard K, who broke early then trotted his last three-quarters in 1:23.3 to salvage the fifth-place check.
Matt Kakaley and George Napolitano Jr. each drove three winners on the card. Doubles were turned in by Brett Beckwith, Anthony Napolitano, and Ridge Warren; both of Warren’s winners came for the only trainer to have two wins on the day, Randy Bendis.
The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series will be featured on the Monday (Aug. 3) 1 p.m. Pocono program, with $231,992 at stake in two Sire Stakes cuts and five Stallion Series sections. The three horses of trainer Dr. Ian Moore who won in the first leg — Mascarpone and Shalom Hanover (Sire Stakes) along with Five Alarm Fire (Stallion Series) — are to be at Pocono and will be driven by Louis-Philippe Roy. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.