Wilkes-Barre, PA — A pair of $16,500 events for the top claiming pacers on the grounds headed the Sunday (June 2) night card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Both winners emerged triumphant for the third time in their last four starts, and both cut the pace – but only one will be returning to the stall he left for the race.

Shoobee Doo A was victorious on Sunday at Pocono. Curtis Salonick Photo.

Shoobee Doo A (Matt Kakaley) blasted away from the rail and put Trip Hammer (George Napolitano Jr.) behind him; that one sat behind the pacesetter’s fractions of :26.2, :55.4, and 1:23.3. The pocket horse moved outside entering the stretch but couldn’t gain significantly in a :27.1 kicker, with Shoobee Doo A winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.4. Owner Adam Short and trainer Darren Taneyhill lost the Shoobee’s Place gelding to a $30,000 claim, but 1) they had claimed him last week and made a $6000 profit and got an $8250 purse check, and 2) owner Short claimed another horse out of the race.

The racing pattern was identical to the stretch in the other featured event: Winbak Willy T (Napolitano Jr.) left hard and forced a tuck from South Point (Kakaley) before the :26.4 quarter, then went on to midfractions of :55.1 and 1:23. South Point tried the Pocono Pike in going after the leader and gained a little, but couldn’t quite match strides with the winning son of Art Major, finishing 1-1/4 lengths back in the 1:51.2 mile. Dean Eckley trains the winner for owner Kathleen Napolitano, and they will “get to take their horse back home” after the race.

In all, eleven horses passed through the Pocono claiming box on Sunday, with $235,000 of purchases.

Top winners on the card were driver Anthony Napolitano and trainer Darren Taneyhill, with three visits to the winners circle.

Pocono concludes its racing week with 1 p.m. cards on Monday and Tuesday. Free Pocono programs are available at www.phha.org.