Wilkes-Barre, PA — On Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 25), Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured a pair of $16,000 for 2-year-old pacers, one for each sex, with both winners breaking their maiden with matching 1:54 tallies.
Papi’s Bride, a daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Native Bride trained by Hunter Oakes, was hustled away from the gate by Brian Sears, got to the front midway on the first turn, then yielded to sit the pocket behind Happy Papi (another daughter of Papi Rob Hanover) by the :28.2 quarter. Those two continued as pacesetter and pocket sitter through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.3, then Sears tipped Papi’s Bride out nearing the top of the stretch and paced to the front by 1-3/4 lengths under the wire, with Happy Papi saving second by a neck over Missneverdonowrong. Sears shares ownership of Papi’s Bride with Kim Chiaramonte Sears.
Harbaugh, a colt by Downbytheseaside-Hometown Blues, had missed 30 days since his last race, but trainer Travis Alexander had him primed for victory. Matt Kakaley gradually worked the baby to the front by a :27.4 quarter, got a breather to a :57.4 half, then kept increasing the speed, coming his third quarter in :28.2 to keep outside challenges at bay before kicking home in :27.2 to hold off potential pocket rocket The Tile Guy by a half length for Fiddler’s Creek Stable.
There was a $15,500 trot for up-and-coming horses, and the Tactical Landing sophomore colt Pine Bush Landau, despite finishing second twice and third once in his three most recent starts since coming to this company, was allowed to reward his backers at 24-1 while lowering his mark to 1:54.2. Pine Bush Landing, trained by Agostino Abbatiello for Durazzano Stable, took charge early and made every pole a winning one in completing the upset.
Pine Bush Landau was driven by Anthony Napolitano, second in the Pocono meet standings. Napolitano was joined by Tyler Buter and Kakaley in notching driving doubles on Tuesday.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (Aug. 29) at 1 p.m., with an $18,500 pace for the fast-class brigade and a $17,500 trot for developing horses. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.