WILKES-BARRE PA – The Green shoe Sophomore gelding Sensational, who came to Pocono after stops at Plainridge and Lexington, combined his two biggest traits of late – extreme speed and off-stride – and managed a dramatic 1:56.4 victory at the trot in one of the two $15,500 divisions of the featured trot Tuesday afternoon on “good” going in cool temperatures.
Matt Kakaley, riding for trainer George Ducharme, whose George Ducharme Stable LLC is co-owned with WJ Donovan, had led Sensational away from the gate and was about to see him in fifth just after the halfway point of the first turn when the three-year-old lost his stride. Kalaley got Sensational back on track at the end of the corner before giving him the ‘go strong’ signal, and the youngster went from the back of the field to the lead before half-time. After that, no one posed a threat to the winner, who was three lengths ahead of Non Disclosure at the finish after making his own final split in :28.4.
SENSATIONAL REPETITION
In the other function, the Archangel gelding Stevie Ray didn’t have as adventurous a ride as Sensational, but driver Jim Pantaleano had to be alert to help the trotter find the winning ride in a 2:00 mile distance. Stevie Ray took the lead, conceded for the pocket and then had to retreat into the two-wide stream as the outside layer threatened the pacer late in the backstretch. Stevie Ray swung wide in the lane and then won by one and a half lengths from Counter Spy for trainer David Hoover and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
George Napolitano Jr. led the driver colony with three wins, including two for trainer Jill Roland; Matt Kakaley, Anthony Napolitano and Jack Pelling had a driving double. David Hoover powered another of his trainees to victory, conditioning co-feature winner Stevie Ray, joining Roland as training doubles.
Racing at Pocono resumes Saturday with a 1 p.m. card; punters will need to note that there will be a carryover to the Superfecta pool from the first race and the High 5 pool from the last race. Monday and Tuesday’s cards feature a pair of John Simpson Sr. each day. Memorial Stakes. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.pha.org.
For full race results, click here: American trotting results.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs
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