Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mid-card rain during the Saturday (June 29) afternoon program at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania caused most of the featured races to be conducted over a sloppy track, but Maximus Miki overcame both the weather and a tough field to win the $25,000 Open Pace in 1:49 – the fastest time of 2024 at Pocono.

After contested early fractions of :26.1 and :54.1, George Napolitano Jr. sent Maximus Miki to challenge leader Big Skewy N, and the two hit the three-quarters in 1:21.2. Their battle continued all the way to deep stretch, where Maximus Miki finally gained the definitive advantage. Big Skewy N held well and crossed the wire second but was placed fifth for drifting down into the passing lane and blocking stretch foes.

Maximus Miki covered an off track in 1:49 — the fastest time of the year at Pocono — in winning the Saturday feature. Curtis Salonick photo.

Maximus Miki now sports a 2024 record of 14-7-4-3, and he has bankrolled $125,295 just this year for trainer Tom Cancelliere and owner John Cancelliere.

The rain started in the race before the first of two $17,000 high-level trots, with the track rated good for that event. It went to Father Stosh, a son of Father Patrick who ground first-over yet still won easily in 1:54. Jason Bartlett, who was joined by Tyler Buter and Anthony Napolitano in steering three winners, guided the victorious Jill Roland trainee for owner Bernard O’Brien.

The other $17,000 trot saw Cant Help Myself refuse to yield from the rail, staying strong to the finish while matching his mark of 1:53.3. Bartlett completed a sweep of this class while handling the duties behind the winner of three straight for owner-trainer Don Niccum.

A $16,500 fast-class event for trotters saw another horse shrug a first-over journey: the Cassis gelding On Higher Ground, who went on to win in 1:53. On Higher Ground, a winner of $587,004, was driven by Joe Bongiorno for trainer Jenn Bongiorno, also his partner in the JB Racing ownership.

The muck didn’t bother the Tall Dark Stranger-Economy Terror 2-year-old pacing colt Inflation Proof at all, as he took his pari-mutuel debut in a strong 1:53. Bartlett laid just off of multiple lead changes, swung the freshman wide on the final turn, and rallied to victory for trainer Hunter Oakes and owners Howard Taylor and Chuck Pompey.

Two-year-olds see their first local stakes action of the season on Sunday’s (June 30) 6 p.m. card in three $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for freshman trotting males. Free Pocono programs are available at www.phha.org.