by PHHA/Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA — Sweet Beach, unraced in 21 days, paced back to his pedigree in taking the final feature race of the year at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday (Nov. 26). It was a $20,000 conditioned pace and was won in 1:51.2 over a sloppy track.
The 5-year-old altered son of Somebeachsomewhere, whose dam Sweet Paprika is a half-sister to Sweet Lou and Bettor Sweet, profited from an early break by favorite Alta Jerome N, to take early command before allowing Theartofconfusion A that honor at the quarter-mile marker. Driver Anthony Napolitano bided his time with Sweet Beach, then came out of the two-hole to wear down the pacesetter by a half-length for his second straight win.
Tom Cancelliere trains the talented pacer for brother/owner John.
Rangers Sureshot, claimed by Ron Burke last week for $17,500, stepped up to $25,000/$30,000 company on Saturday and took the $18,000 claiming handicap pace in 1:52.3, which was just a tick off his lifetime mark.
Driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Chris Oakes, who won both the dash-winning and percentage titles in their respective categories, were trying for their sixth straight win in this class and had favored Freeneasy Hanover on the lead. However, the victorious Palone Ranger gelding made a big sweeping move late on the backstretch to join the leader on the turn and Rangers Sureshot proved a half-length better tonight than the gritty Freeneasy Hanover.
Matt Kakaley handled the sulky duties behind Rangers Sureshot for trainer Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC /Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
That trio went home with both the first and second place finishers in the race, as they claimed Freeneasy Hanover for $25,000 as well.
Earlier, Windsun Stetson joined Terror Aint A Fool as the only two-time “bombers” of the Pocono meet when he won race two for driver Eric Carlson and paid $50.20. Windsun Stetson had paid $72.20 in victory only three weeks earlier.