from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — A pair of nicely-pedigreed distaffs paced back to their distinguished bloodlines in taking the co-featured pacing events at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday (Sept. 27).

Encore Deo, a sophomore daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven whose second dam is the $3.7 million-winning Eternal Camnation, rallied from the pocket to catch I Said Please by a half-length in taking the $16,000 conditioned pace in 1:52.3, lowering her mark by 2-3/5 seconds.

Despite showing a 1:51.4 time at Vernon in a NYSS consolation last time, having the rail, and the talented backing of driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Ron Burke, Encore Deo was dismissed at 10-1. A 20-race losing streak, dating back 53 weeks, may have had something to do with the odds but she was able to rally for the tally for the ownership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Jason Mellilo and Lawrence Karr.

Gweneeee J, a full sister to millionaires Heston Blue Chip and Sunfire Blue Chip, made every pole a winning one in taking a $14,000 conditioned mares co-feature in 1:51.3. The daughter of American Ideal won by a length over pocket-sitting Mystical Nectar while scoring for driver Jim Marohn Jr., trainer Linda Toscano and the KJ Stables, who saw their mare raise her career earnings to $155,817.