The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Week in Review

HARNESS RACING PACER OF THE WEEK: HULOU

It took this three-year-old gelding trained by Ron Burke twelve races before he picked up his first win of the season on June 22 at Pocono. But Hulou must have liked the taste of it, because he came back and did it again a week later. On Tuesday, he was looking for three in a row, taking on a non-winners of four group of pacing colts, stallions and geldings. This one turned into a kind of match race between Hulou, the 6-5 favorite, and Rhett Seelster, who battled it out with him the whole time.

The favorite took the lead from the pocket around the final turn, but Rhett Seelster came back to make it close. It ended up with Hulou, with Matt Kakaley in the bike, gutting it out over his game competitor for the victory by a neck in 1:51:3, a new career-best in his third straight win.

HONORABLE MENTION – PACERS
Somebeach Baron (Anthony Napolitano, Marta Piotrow), whose claiming handicap victory on Saturday afternoon came in 1:49, a new career-best and the fastest pacing time of the week at Pocono.

Red Power (Jim Marohn Jr., Brian Malone), who followed up back-to-back wins at Scioto with a victory in the Tuesday feature in 1:50:4.

Sports Teen (George Napolitano Jr., Tee Wine), who delivered his second straight claiming handicap win on Saturday, this one in a career-best mark of 1:50:1.

TROTTER OF THE WEEK: ANGEL NATION

After ripping off two straight wins at Harrah’s, this four-year-old gelding from the Julie Miller barn had to be taken seriously in Tuesday’s condition trot at Pocono for winners of four but no more than seven starts lifetime. But to get it done, he had to overcome the outside post in a field of nine.

With Tyler Miller in the bike, Angel Nation was able to glide to the front early from the outside post. After expending the effort, Angel Nation needed a breather, and Miller was able to get him one with a soft second panel of :29:4. From there, the gelding wasn’t about to give in. Angel Nation stayed strong and held off fast-closing Baldaquin by a half-length for the victory in 1:55:1, giving him three wins in a row overall.

HONORABLE MENTION – TROTTERS
Aggiornamento (Tom Jackson, Fred Grant), a two-year-old who moved to two-for-two in his career after a condition win on Monday in 1:58:1.

Scirocco Rob (George Napolitano Jr., Mark Silva), who delivered in Saturday’s featured condition trot in 1:52, the fastest trotting time of the week at Pocono.

Mon Cheval (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter), a two-year-old filly who made a striking career debut with a victory in a Pennsylvania All-Stars division on Sunday night in 1:54:3.

LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK: SPANISH ART

In Monday afternoon’s featured condition pace, this seven-year-old veteran driven by Fern Paquet Jr. came out of the clouds for the victory at odds of 41-1, paying off $84.60 on a $2 win ticket.

DRIVER OF THE WEEK: JIM PANATLEANO

Pantaleano has been a regular at Pocono this season, and he enjoyed one of his best weeks of the meet with a double on Sunday night and three more wins on Tuesday afternoon.

TRAINER OF THE WEEK: TEE WINE

Wine’s trainees could do no wrong on Saturday afternoon, as four starters from the barn took to the track and three came back with victories.

That will do it from Pocono this week, but we’ll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me.

by Jim Beviglia, for The Downs