from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Freakonomics won her second straight race in 1:51.2, equaling the mark she set here on June 20, in taking the fastest of four $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars 3-year-old filly pace Monday night (July 10) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Curtis Salonick photo

Freakonomics won the fastest of four $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars 3-year-old filly pace.

The Western Terror filly was on top at every call for driver George Napolitano Jr., stepping home smartly in :27.3 to defuse potential pocket rocket Beach Club by a neck. Freakonomics has yet to be off the board in nine seasonal starts for trainer Ross Croghan and the ownership of Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Dana Parham.

Driver Brett Miller continued to play the role of “spoiler” in the All-Stars. A day after winning a division of the 3-year-old colt pace with Jo Pa’s Somebeach at a $35.20 mutuel, he rallied the Somebeachsomewhere miss Perplexed from a third-inside trip to win by three-quarters of a length in another All-Stars division Monday. The filly paid a perplexingly-high $25.20 to those who knew of Brett’s recent longshot prowess (which included four winners at Harrah’s Philadelphia Sunday, all $10-plus and one coming home at $60.20) while equaling her 1:52 personal speed badge in the triumph for trainer Nifty Norman and Cool Cat Racing Inc.

Still not convinced? How about Brett Miller and Nifty Norman teaming again to bring about a $15.00 winner in another All-Stars division. Miller gave the Bettor’s Delight miss Bridge To Tomorrow a nifty drive in her section, laying off a :54.2 half, then rallying to a 1:51.4 victory, lowering her mark by almost three seconds for Bay Pond Racing Stable Inc.

The scenario of “third-inside trip parlayed to a win in 1:52” that worked for Perpelxed was also played out by Pittstop Danika, showing strong late horsepower up the inside for driver Matt Kakaley to defeat first-over favorite Inverse Hanover by a neck. The daughter of Yankee Cruiser took a new mark in winning for trainer Ron Burke and the combine of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and M1 Stable.

The All-Stars stakes action comes to an end for 2017 at The Downs Tuesday, with five divisions of 3-year-old trotting fillies each going for $30,000. Brett Miller is listed at 10-1 or better in four of those five divisions — you can’t say you weren’t warned.