Wilkes-Barre, PA – Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania had two $16,000 races as features on (July 20) Monday afternoon, and the two classes came from opposite ends of the condition sheet – one was for fast-class trotters, and one was for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Keg Stand, a 7-year-old Bar Hopping gelding, earned in six figures in each of his first five seasons of racing. He’ll have to have a very good second half of 2026 to keep that streak alive, but he’s achieved top form right now – two wins and two thirds in his last four starts – including his 1:52.4 victory in the co-feature for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Nicholas Devita, and owners David Hamm and EVM Racing LLC.
Favored Abruzzo, named after the Adriatic section of Italy that was the birthplace of wrestling immortal Bruno Sammartino, attempted to put a bear hug on this contest, leaving strongly from the rail and setting fractions of :27.2, :56.3, and 1:24.2. Keg Stand and Boyd had to come first-over the last half, but they gradually reached the leader in early stretch, and from there to the wire there wasn’t 12 inches difference between them, with Keg Stand proving the more photogenic by the smallest possible margin. And even if he doesn’t reach six figures for the year, Keg Stand will almost assuredly reach seven figures for his career, as the photo win boosted his career bankroll to $983.036.
The Perfect Sting – Major Delight filly Missneverdonowrong has lived up to her name (if you forgive the double negative) in her two career starts, following a successful debut at Goshen with a 1:56.4 lifetime best in the co-feature for driver Anthony Napolitano, trained Jared Bako, and owners Eric Taddeo and Rosemarie Sienicki. Despite having to pace her last half uncovered in :57, Missneverdonowrong was 1-1/2 lengths clear of late charger Gigi N Miki at the finish.
Matt Kakaley wore the day’s drivers crown at the end of the afternoon, piloting four winners home. Driving doubles were recorded by Simon Allard and the Napolitano brothers, Anthony and George Jr.
There are five $16,000 two-year-old races carded for Tuesday’s (July 21) 1 p.m. card – two for each sex of trotter, and one for pacing colts. Also on the schedule is Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears slated for two drives in his first pari-mutuel action since November 2023. After that, the weekend also promises good action, with a $29,500 fast-class pace featuring Ken Hanover, Ruthless Hanover, and Maximus Miki on Saturday’s (July 25) 1 p.m. program, and then during the last seasonal action on Sundays at Pocono, the 5 p.m. twilight card will feature the inaugural $75,000 Mohegan Cup for free-for-all pacing mares, which could feature one of Chris Ryder’s two stars in this section, Miki And Minnie and Twin B Joe Fresh.
Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.