Wilkes-Barre, PA — Odds-on favorite Portulaca clicked in one of the two $15,000 featured trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon (June 26) while 18-1 shot Weather Vanes set the pace and held on to win the other division.

Despite winning in this class last week, Weather Vanes, a son of Deweycheatumnhowe trained and owned by David Hoover, was let go at long odds, with the crowd favoring Canadian newcomer Evil Guy and Mandrill, a winner of three straight and a full sister to Gimpanzee. Bur driver Jim Pantaleano never looked back with Weather Vanes, setting soft early fractions of :28.3 and :58.4 over a sloppy track, opening a clear lead to the 1:27.2 three-quarters, and then withstanding a relentless late charge from Mandrill to prevail by a nose while equaling her mark.

Jim Pantaleano kept Weather Vanes to task to evade two late pursuers in victory at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

When the track was rated fast despite intermittent precipitation earlier in the card, the sophomore Donato Hanover filly Portulaca showed her appreciation of a drop from stakes company, also racing on the engine in splits of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.2 before maintaining a one-length margin over pocket-sitting Quarantina to the finish in 1:56.1. George Napolitano Jr. guided the winner for trainer Kathleen LaMontagne, who shares ownership with Donald LaMontagne.

The 23-year-old Braxten Boyd, now up to fifth in the Pocono driveing standings, visited Victory Lane four times during the afternoon.

The racing week at Pocono concludes with a 1 p.m. program on Tuesday (June 27). Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available on the PHHA website.