Wilkes-Barre, PA — Da Delightful just caught Western Joe in a stretch thriller on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning in 1:50 over a “good” track in the $17,500 pacing headliner.

Da Delightful (8) noses Western Joe (7) after a great stretch duel to win the Saturday feature at Pocono. Curtis Salonick Photo.

Da Delightful (Marcus Miller) took over from Ultimaroca before the :26.2 quarter; favored Western Joe (George Napolitano Jr.), who had spotted third early, then moved to the lead in front of the stands, got to the half in :54.3 and rolled to the three-quarters in 1:21.4, burning off all the outside opposition.

Turning for home, Western Joe was joined by Da Delightful, and the two battled hard through the lane, with the pocket sitting son of Bettor’s Delight just edging the pacesetter by a nose. Da Delightful was driven by Miller for trainer/owner Mark Silva.

Despite being on the losing side of the photo, Western Joe still had a good day, becoming the sport’s newest millionaire – the second-place check nudged his career earnings to $1,000,123 for owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies.

There also was a $17,500 event for the trotters, and in it the Trixton gelding Toccoa Falls (Jason Bartlett) posted his second straight win since coming to Pocono, winning by three-quarters of a length over Robbie Pev (Tom Jackson) in 1:54.2, also in “good” going. Toccoa Falls had to overcome the difficult tuck-then-first-over route, but he proved equal to the challenge in a game outing for trainer Per Engblom, and owners Evan Katz and Frank Canzone.

Go West Go Fast (George Napolitano Jr.) was claimed for the fifth straight start for the Pocono-record price of $40,000. However, here he got parked through vicious fractions and faded, with the winner the second choice Rogerthat Bluechip – a 1:51.3 winner Saturday, he is still the fastest pacer of the season at Pocono with his 1:49.2 victory on May 14. Rogerthat Bluechip will also go to a new home after he was haltered for $38,000.

Jim Pantaleano guided four winners home on the Saturday card.

Distaff pacers will be in the spotlight during Sunday’s 5 p.m. twilight performance. Last year’s Stallion Series champion Odds On Whitney will make her four-year-old debut in the $17,000 featured class, with the $14,500 sub-feature for fast-class females looks to be a wide-open affair.

On Memorial Day Monday, the three-year-old pacing colts will be at the mountain oval for the second prelim of their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.