Paternity Suit A slams down gavel on feature field

WILKES-BARRE PA – The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Paternity Suit A rallied in the deep Pocono Pike to take Saturday’s $13,000 fast-class harness racing pace in 1:50.4 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Paternity Suit A got away second behind favored Ollie’s ZTam by the :26.2 quarter, then wound up third as Rebellious brushed to the lead before the :54.4 half. With horses racing three-in/three-out by the 1:22.2 three-quarters and not backing off on the turn, driver George Napolitano Jr. had little other choice but to hope to find room up the Pocono Pike in the stretch, and when a path opened, Paternity Suit A responded quickly. Rockie Got Framed was rallying strongly from second-over, but the Australian import was able to get to the wire first by a neck for trainer Tom Fanning and owners Anthony Gruppo and Tim Bojarski.

PATERNITY SUIT A REPLAY

In the companion $13,000 fast-class trot, the Explosive Matter gelding Rich And Miserable, after four consecutive board finishes without victory, got back on the winning track with a triumph in 1:54.2. The Tyler Buter-driven, Todd Buter-trained winner of $545,589 took the lead just past the quarter and remained in control thereafter, winning by a length over Macmorris Hanover for the partnership of Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs.

RICH AND MISERABLE REPLAY

The top claiming handicap paces went to Albergo Hanover in 1:50.3 and Regal Son in 1:51.3. The fastest mile of the day came in the last race, a second-lowest-level conditioned pace, as Dirt On My Boots rallied along the inside to take a new mark of 1:50.

Tyler Buter, along with leading driver George Napolitano and his brother Anthony, each posted three victories on the card.

Fillies and mares will be the featured performers on Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. twilight card, with the top event a $19,300 tenth race pace featuring a competitive field of six. Program pages are available at www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.

For full race results, click here.

From PHHA / Pocono