Wilkes-Barre, PA — The star-crossed racehorse and prolific stallion Walner sired both 3-year-old trotting colts who won the $15,000 featured events on Tuesday (Oct. 18) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The faster of the two features fell to Ken’s Walner, coming to Pocono off a recent win at the Meadowlands and success in Kentucky stakes. Tyler Buter, who, along with Marcus Miller, topped the drivers’ colony with four wins on the card, guided Ken’s Walner to controlling position before a :28.1 opener, rated the half to :58, then got an extended challenge from close second choice Hand Dover Dan past a 1:26.2 three-quarters. Try as he might, Hand Dover Dan could not catch Ken’s Walner, and in mid-stretch he went to a break, and was placed from second to third as 60-1 shot TNT Blue Chip was lapped on him at the line.

Ken’s Walner impressed as he won a trotting feature on the Tuesday card at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Noel Daley trains Ken’s Walner for owner Ken Jacobs.

In the other division, favored Street Smarts maintained his early lead to the finish line in a 1:57.4 success. Matt Kakaley, the meet’s top driver, guided the sophomore to the point nearing the :29.2 quarter, got soft middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.1, then held off late challengers to both sides, with Awsome Paul to his right a half length behind at the finish and Pocono Pike-shooting Heart Matters a nose short of second.

Street Smarts races for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.

Five different trainers sent out two winners Tuesday: Tom Cancelliere, Bruce Clarke, Noel Daley, Richard “Nifty” Norman and Darren Taneyhill.

Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday (Oct. 22) at 1:30 p.m., with a $17,500 contest on each gait topping a highly-competitive card. Program pages for all Pocono races are made available on the PHHA website.