from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Despite having to go first-over in the muck on the proverbial dark and stormy night, the Majestic Son gelding Golden Son raced off to a 3-1/2 length victory in the $20,500 featured trot Sunday (Oct. 29) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:55.3.

Pocono’s “Trot Man,” driver Mike Simons, handled sulky duties behind Golden Son for trainer Jenny Melander and owners John Devito and Rocco Manniello. Unraced at two, Golden Son has now posted 10 victories in each of his 3- and 4-year-old years, and with this win he boosted his lifetime bankroll to $208,916.

Earlier, El Pescadoro visited Victory Lane for the first time in 18 months, 14 days, and 46 races when he took a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3 despite the tough conditions for driver Austin Siegelman, trainer Tom Gummerson, and owner Dr. Linda Quodomine. Despite the long losing streak, any backers with the patience to play $2 on him in every start during the period would now have a 42 percent return on their money, for on Sunday he lit up the Pocono board with a $132.20 win mutuel.

Driver Simon Allard finished with a huge rush on a miserable night, weather-wise, winning the last four races to give him six winners on the card. Interestingly, none of the six were the favorite in their races, but none of them paid more than $8.80. Three of the last four of Simon’s winners were trained by his brother Rene; in all they combined for four winners on the night.

Simon also had two wins at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the afternoon, giving him eight victories on the doubleheader day.