Wilkes-Barre, PA — On Higher Ground shipped in from Yonkers to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon (May 20) and promptly won the $25,000 Preferred Trot in 1:51.4, a new mark and the fastest trotting mile of the year at The Downs.

Driver Jason Bartlett kept the Cassis gelding in third early as P L Notsonice took the lead from favorite Rich And Miserable after a :27 first-quarter battle, with the mare carrying on to the half in :55.4. On Higher Ground was full of trot when Bartlett moved him outside up the backstretch, ground to P L Notsonice by the 1:24.1 three-quarters, then drew away from that one by six lengths with a :27.3 last quarter. Rich And Miserable settled for third.

On Higher Ground trotted the fastest mile of the year at Pocono, 1:51.4, in Saturday’s Preferred Trot. Curtis Salonick photo.

Jenn Bongiorno trains On Higher Ground, a winner of $416,539 lifetime, for owner Robert Weinstein.

In the $18,500 co-featured trot, Robbie Pev sustained his front-stepping advantage to the wire, taking a new mark of 1:53.1. The Bar Hopping gelding made the top before a :27.2 opener, then faced plenty of mid-race pressure from the favored Dandy, who advanced a long way uncovered during splits of :56.2 and 1:24.1. Robbie Pev opened a brief clear lead early in the stretch and then held off second-over Share The Wealth by three-quarters of a length, with Dandy continuing for third. Tyler Buter drove Robbie Pev for trainer Jill Roland and owner Bernard O’Brien.

There was also an $18,500 event for pacers, with Luckbewithalex — already the author of three sub-1:50 miles at the meet against lesser foes — gamely holding off favorite Da Delightful in 1:50. Jack’s Legend N made the front by the :26.4 quarter, with Da Delightful and Luckbewithalex both on the move behind him; Da Delightful first claimed the top before Luckbewithalex overtook him for command by the :55.3 half. Odds On Osiris posted a serious uncovered threat to the 1:23 three-quarters, but in the stretch the two second-quarter movers were the main fighters. Luckbewithalex ultimately held off his inside foe by a nose for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Lance Hudson, and owner William Hartt.

The astest winner on the card was RIP Wheeler, a Rockin Image gelding who took a $17,000 pace in 1:49.4 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Hunter Oakes, and owners Thaddeus Wier, Donald Mac Rae and Stephen Klunowski.

Kakaley led all drivers with three wins on the card.

Sunday’s (May 21) 6 p.m. card will feature four second-leg divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt pacers, plus five complementary sections of that group’s Stallion Series. All four of the first-round Sire Stakes winners – Annapolis Hanover, Bamboozler, Fulton and Ken Hanover – are set for action on Sunday at the mountain oval, building up their point totals as they eye their September $250,000 Sire Stakes championship. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available on the PHHA website.