Wilkes-Barre, PA — Saturday morning (July 18) rain lasting into the early afternoon made for a Pocono Downs at Mohegan Sun racing surface rated “sloppy” for seven races and then “good” for the last five, but at least Pocono got its card in (Philly had to cancel because of air quality Friday; the Clearfield Fair was rained out Saturday). However, atypically for the mountain track, favorites and front-enders had a rough time in the off going, with only two of 12 of each category winning.
Captinhammerhead A, a Yonkers regular, lowered his mark by three seconds winning the $29,500 featured fast-class pace in 1:48.4. George Napolitano Jr. reserved his pacer near the back during cutthroat fractions of :25.4 and :54, then moved the son of Captaintreacherous into a generally-lively outer tier well before the 1:21 three quarters, then swung him wide.
George’s brother, Anthony, had gone uncovered with Control Rocks, made the lead, and past midstretch it looked like one of the brothers would win. They were in tight quarters momentarily (Control Rocks suffered “b.e.” and Captinhammerhead A got an “i”), but the Aussie regathered momentum and won for trainer Scott Blackler and owner Chad Koval.
And spare a thought for the very game Congressional, who was the first on top, yielded and was shuffled after the front-end war claimed victims, quickly swung from one-wide to four-wide upon clearing headstretch, was still seventh nearing midstretch, and came flying to miss just a half-length, photoing Control Rocks for the deuce.
In the $18,500 co-feature fast-class pace, the American Ideal gelding American Fling closed from parts unknown to be along in 1:50.4 for driver Ridge Warren and trainer Randy Bendis, the latter co-owner with Pollack Racing LLC. American Fling also used three-wide sweeping tactics en route to his win as the third choice, with the two favorites sixth and seventh after hard work on or near the lead.
Trotters were featured in two $17,500 races for developing diamondgaiters, with both divisions seeing the winner take a new mark of 1:52.4. One winner was the Archangel mare Black Velvet AS, who overcame a two-move trip and an equipment malfunction to finish a head to the good of 38-1 shot Wapiti Blue Chip. Brett Beckwith was in the sulky for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owner ACL Stuteri AB.
The Southwind Frank gelding Frank Leahy never left the “safety” of the inside until mid-turn, then closed with a rush to post a three-quarter-length win over LMC Wagon Wheel in the only feature raced while track was still rated “sloppy.” The meet leaders, driver Tyler Buter and trainer Ron Burke, combined behind the winner, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Buter and Burke won three of the first five races to further their meet advantages and also lead their respective categories on the day. Doubles were also notched by driver George Napolitano Jr. and Warren.
During Sunday’s (July 19) 5 p.m. twilight card, the penultimate Sunday program at Pocono in 2026, $210,455 will be contested in the second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies, with three Sire Stakes cuts and four Stallion Series sections. There will also be a double carryover into the fifth race Pick 5, and a carryover into the first race Pick Four.
Looking ahead, an interesting name appears as driver for two horses Tuesday (July 21) – Hall of Fame horseman Brian Sears, down to handle two charges for Hunter Oakes after having not driven in a purse race since November 2023.
Free Pocono program pages are or will be available on www.phha.org.