Wilkes-Barre, PA — Trotters contested two of Tuesday’s (Aug. 26) featured races at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and long shots generated some big payouts in both of them.
Rain began to fall just before the $15,500 featured event on the card, turning the surface from “fast” to “good,” at which it stayed the rest of the day. The off going didn’t hinder the sophomore Love You gelding Beaujolais Breeze, who made a powerful move up the backstretch to command and went on to defeat Bizzy Brenda, who was traveling in his wake, by 1-1/4 lengths while taking a new lifetime best of 1:55.
Beaujolais Breeze, unraced at 2, had won three of his first six career starts in eastern Pennsylvania before trying Kentucky stakes company for five starts, earning some checks but never hitting the board. Upon his return, Beaujolais Breeze was dismissed at 15-1 before winning for the track’s leading driver, Tyler Buter, trainer Nifty Norman, and the ownership of Tom Vassiliou, Deo Volente Farms LLC, Thomas Pontone and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.
P L Quinella had come to Pocono off two straight successes at Grand River Raceway, made a break in his mountain bow, then fronted a field while setting a new mark of 1:53.4 last time out at 39-1. The step up in class to the $12,500 co-feature level and post eight must have scared off the handicappers, but P L Quinella was not ruffled at all, winning (pre-rain) in 1:54.4.
Johnathan Ahle got him a pocket trip, waited for the Pocono Pike, then went right on by in hand, paying win backers to the tune of $66.00. The Kadabra gelding is trained by Anthony Faulkner for owner Jaypaul Hoover.
Driving triples were posted by the two drivers who between them have won the last 15 Pocono dash crowns: Matt Kakaley and George Napolitano Jr.
Kakaley’s three-bagger included a winner for trainer Mike Simons, a former Pocono driving champion who last raced locally on April 1 before spending the spring and summer in Kentucky, while Napolitano’s triple included two horses for trainer Linda Toscano, the only conditioner who doubled on the card.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (Aug. 30) at 1 p.m., followed by the last Sunday (Aug. 31) card of 2025 at the northeast Pennsylvania oval, which will start at 6 p.m. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.