WILKES-BARRE PA – The temperature was only slightly warmer than recently on Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs in Mohegan Pennsylvania, but many of the times were noticeably faster, led by Oakwood Heymiki IR’s 1:49 in the $17,500 pacing side of the feature class for developing harness racing horses.
The changed son of Always B Miki gave his many supporters a bit of a scare last week when he went outside the wire, but did not break the rules and therefore stayed on the sidelines. This week Tyler Buter moved up from fourth on the fleet import and there was no bump at all, just a few: 27.1 back quarters leaving the winner of three of his last four 6¾ lengths clear under the line for trainer Bob Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc and with a new lifetime mile record.
OAK WOOD HEYMIKI IR REPLAY
The trotting co-feature went to the Lionhunter gelding Kovu AS, just one for 33 in the year he entered the race, but today a dead game on the bike to fend off potential pocket rocket Chuckthemillionaire by a neck in his best 1:55 of his life. Kovu AS was managed by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Anthony Faulkner and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
Another sub-1:50 mile was completed at the $16,000 handicap pace by Courtly Choice ridgling Spring Blake, who was victorious in four of his last six to earn a new speed badge of 1:49.1 here. Tyler Buter rode another clear winner (6¼ lengths) for trainer Cory Stratton and owner Caldwell Marnie Racing LLC – who had just claimed the horse for $37,500 last week and just as quickly lost him to a claim. Spring Blake was one of three winners to change hands after their race on a day where there were a total of seven claims, for $152,500 (the metrics are 378 claims for $7,625,625).
There were two $13,500 fast-class matches, one for each course, and according to recent trends, there was a big upset winner in both. The Bar Hopping gelding Showman Hanover was able to save his move until late in the mile and then finished with a nose bump in favor of Kinnder Thinktwice as he took a lifetime score of 1:53 for $94.40. Jordan Stratton had the drive for trainer Richard Aiken and Arden Homestead Stable.
The fast pace in the class was the final race on the schedule, and in a dramatic finish, the Sweet Lou gelding Dream Bird crossed the finish line last to take the chalk I Did It Myway in 1:51.4 ahead of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., David Wills and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. Dream Bird had only won by seven seconds this year before the upset, which explains the $120.60 winning prize.
However, the following two facts in no way support this statement, as Dream Bird was driven by the competition’s lead driver, Tyler Buter, and is trained by the competition’s lead trainer, Ron Burke. Buter and Burke are the only riders to have two $100+ winners this meeting, as they also teamed with The Bizzness N ($112.40) on October 21. Burke is also the only conditioner to have four $50+ Bombers in Pocono this year. (Yes, the same guy who broke the single-season money-for-a-shed record on Thursday.)
With Dream Bird’s upset coming in the final event, there will be a transfer – now a double transfer – to the High 5 pool from Monday’s final race. Three divisions of the Winter Is Coming Pacing Series will also take place Monday in Pocono. 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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