Wilkes-Barre, PA — Driver Kasper Foget was determined to make the lead with Distance Learning in the $15,000 featured trot on a warm Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 25) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and his persistence paid off as the 3-year-old held on to win in 1:55.3.

Awsome Paul cleared Street Smarts early before stringing Distance Learning out well past a :28 quarter. Once in control, Foget backed off the half to :58.3, then braced for challenges from two outside rivals: second choice Street Smarts, who came back for more uncovered through and past a 1:26.3 three-quarters; and Dover Dan, who moved three-wide late on the far turn.

Neither rival proved the equal of Distance Learning, though, as the Chapter Seven colt won by 1-1/4 lengths over Street Smarts. Hand Dover Dan was another 1-1/4 lengths behind in third.

Distance Learning maintained his early lead to the winning post in Tuesday’s top trot at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Per Engblom trains the winner, who has won four of five races since adding trotting hopples, for JJ Racing Stable Inc.

Matt Kakaley drove four winners on the Tuesday afternoon card and George Napolitano Jr. three as those two horsemen continued their battle for seasonal supremacy. Kakaley’s lead now stands at 232-229.

Pocono offers racing on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday afternoons, with post time at 1:30 p.m. Program pages for all Pocono races are available via the PHHA website.