from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Golden Son sat the perfect pocket trip behind pacesetting Upfront Billy, 2017 Trotter of the Year at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono who was trying to live up to his name Sunday (April 29), but Golden Son had enough to rally for a nose victory in 1:54.1 in the $17,500 feature.

Curtis Salonick photo

Golden Son was a narrow winner in the Sunday feature.

Jim Morrill Jr., recording his third win of the card, had the seat behind Golden Son, who won his second straight start for trainer Jenny Melander and owner John Devito. The gelded son of Majestic Son boosted his earnings to $253,681.

The Sunday card at The Downs also featured three divisions of a $17,000 event for non-winners of sox races: one on the trot, one for pacing females, and one for pacing males.

The ladies were up first, with the victory going to the Sportswriter mare Windy Sport and the red-hot pairing of driver George Napolitano Jr. and owner/trainer Gilbert Garcia Herrera. Windy Sport pressed on to the lead past the quarter and cut the pace, holding off the late rush of favored Blameitonthenight by a head in 1:52.4 while boosting her career bankroll to $192,763.

In the pacing section for males, the Up The Credit gelding Xpert Bayama had to blast a :26 opener to get to the lead from the outside post nine, but from there he remained in charge, winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52. The meet’s leading driver, Anthony Napolitano, guided Xpert Bayama to the victory for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

In the trotting contest, Anthony Napolitano and Burke (his third win of the night) came right back to Victory Lane, as the Credit Winner gelding Arch Credit refused to let anybody get by him, and with the aid of breaks by key contenders, won by open lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.4. Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi also own Arch Credit, who topped six figures with the triumph, his bankroll now at $101,743.

Finishing Lines: There will be a double draw at Pocono Monday for the Kentucky Derby Day doubleheader this Saturday. The evening card will feature the $50,000 Van Rose Memorial Pace and the four $30,000 championships for the Bobby Weiss Series; the afternoon session will be highlighted by $15,000 consolation events for Weiss horses.