by PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Driver Jim Marohn Jr. made personal history on the Saturday evening (Nov. 11) card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, guiding the Badlands Hanover gelding Big N Bad home first. It was the 4,000th victory of a career that started in 2002 for Marohn. The son of longtime Yonkers/Roosevelt top gun Jim Marohn Sr., continues to add higher numbers to his 2017 best totals ever – now at 440 victories and earnings of $4.5 million – as he continues in a fierce battle with Simon Allard for second-place in the driving win category, at this facility behind leader George Napolitano Jr.

Curtis Salonick photo

Foiled Again visits the winner’s circle for the 97th occasion at Pocono on Saturday evening.

The Wayfaring Man was a convincing pocket rocket in Saturday’s $17,000 pacing feature, rewarding the public’s faith by reporting home first by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2. Matt Kakaley handled the Dragon Again gelding for trainer Ron Burke and Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and M 1 Stables LLC.

In the following race, Kakaley and Burke were back in front of the photographer with another Dragon Again gelding in Foiled Again, who at age 13 posted the 97th victory in his storied career. The triumph by the sport’s richest Standardbred raised his bankroll to $7,550,278 for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and JJK Stables LLC.

Earlier in the week the Andover Hall gelding Upfront Billy was named Pocono’s Trotter of the Year, but evidently word didn’t get to too many supporters on Saturday, as he made every pole a winning in 1:55.1 for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Mark Ford – the latter co-owner with Up Front Racing LLC – while returning a very generous $21.00.