from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Sparky Mark ($14.20), the next-to-longest shot in the field, made every pole a winning one in the $25,000 winners over pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night (April 25).

All-time money champion Foiled Again, having to go first-over after a rest of three weeks, finished fifth, beaten less than four lengths in the 1:49.2 mile.

Curtis Salonick photo

Sparky Mark was a half-length winner in the Pocono feature.

The red-hot Brothers Allard, driver Simon and trainer Rene, teamed up behind the victorious son of Astreos, who hit the quarter in :26.3 and the half in :55.

Foiled Again came first-over but could get no closer than the winner’s wheel at the 1:22.4 three-quarter pole, with Sparky Mark then turning on the sprint engine even further with a :26.3 dash home to win by a half-length over pocket-sitting Luck Be Withyou, a 2013 Breeders Crown winner at Pocono (like Foiled Again) making his 2015 debut here.

Kapildeo Singh and Michael Assante share ownership on Sparky Mark, who went over $900,000 in career earnings with the triumph.

Foiled Again’s all-time money total now stands at $6,925,031, with his Pocono record 12-5-3-2-$759,636. The 11-year-old’s start on Saturday came a staggering 2,780 days since his first appearance at the mountain oval, when as a 3-year-old the altered son of Dragon Again was third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stake on July 3, 2007.

Next Saturday is Kentucky Derby Day, which The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will celebrate with the only doubleheader of racing this season. The first race will go at 11 a.m., with the evening card set to go at 6:30 p.m.

The highlight of the afternoon card is the debut of the stakes season at Pocono, with a Pennsylvania All-Stars for PA-sired 3-year-olds featured next weekend and the one after that — the 3-year-old trotting colts will be in the Saturday afternoon spotlight.

The evening card feature will be the $50,000 Van Rose Memorial Pace, named after the longtime sportswriter and handicapper of the area.