Wilkes-Barre, PA — Backstreet Shadow made short work of a talented field in Saturday’s (Aug. 27) featured $25,000 fast class pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday afternoon and made short week of a talented field, winning in 1:49.1.

Simon Allard reserved the Shadow Play gelding off the early action as J M Mandamin wrested the lead from Mark Witha K after a :26.2 quarter, then sent the winner of $1,176,710 uncovered as the field approached the :55 half. Despite going first-over, Backstreet Shadow paced a :26.1 third quarter to easily clear to the lead nearing the 1:21.4 three-quarters, then had the others far in his rearview mirror through the lane, with second-over Priceless Beach five lengths back in second. Favorite Jack’s Legend N rallied from third-over for third, another length behind.

Backstreet Shadow was all alone at the end of the featured pace on Saturday at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Ron Burke, who has built a sizeable lead atop the local training standings, conditions the fast veteran for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby.

Anthony Napolitano won both $17,500 co-featured events, bringing both winners from second-over. On the trot, Blenheim, a Yankee Glide gelding who has two victories at the meet by double-digit lengths, won by a relatively modest 1-1/2 lengths over Rich And Miserable in 1:53.2 for trainer Lance Hudson and William Hartt, as favored Sorella was involved in a fast early pace and could only last for fourth.

In the pacing co-feature, Carlisimo, who was last early, benefited from following the cover of Dealer’s Table, and his late move just got him past pacesetter Vettel N by a nose in 1:50.4. Robert Cleary trains the son of Shadow Play, who surpassed $300,000 in lifetime earnings with the success, for owner Eric Good.

Anthony Napolitano, fourth in the current Pocono standings, wound up with five winners on the card. His brother, George, took four races and narrowed the distance between himself and top driver Matt Kakaley to 185-178.

Sunday’s (Aug. 28) 5 p.m. twilight card at Pocono offers a $25,000 fast-class pace for distaffs, as well as the summer Championship and Consolation for the American Harness Drivers Club competition for amateur horsemen. Program pages for all Pocono races are available on the PHHA website.