Author: By Tim Bojarski for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Two $16,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes sparred for dollars as each of the freshmen male pacing victors played “catch me if you can,” on Thursday (July 18).

Heavy favorites Sir Pinocchio and Fly By were up to the task in the pair of New York Sire Stakes divisions for sophomore trotting colts and geldings on Thursday night (July 18) at MGM Yonkers Raceway, scoring in 1:55 and 1:56.3, respectively.

The “Trottin’ Thursday” (July 18) card made its usual strong contribution to the week’s racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with four miles for diamond-gaited horses going in 1:53 or faster at the southeast Pennsylvania oval.

A fierce summer storm swept through northeast Pennsylvania just before the $17,000 featured pace at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Tuesday(July 16) afternoon, causing a delay before the race. But when the feature field did come to the track, the Boston Red Rocks sophomore colt Boston Rocks showed no ill effects from being kept waiting, coming his last half in :54.4 to lower his mark to 1:51.4 despite the “sloppy” going.

When driver Jay Randall won the fourth race with Sweet Street Lou (1:54.4, $8.60) at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 16) afternoon, he reached the 5,000 win plateau for his career that now spans 46 years.