Catch The Fire sizzles in Pocono feature

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Catch The Fire (Captaintreacherous) blazed to a 1:47.4 harness racing victory in the $25,000 fast-class pace on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, equaling the fastest mile of the year at The Downs first posted by American Courage three weeks ago.

Catch The Fire was sent off at 2-5 despite not having a victory in 2022 (to expand on a pre-race note of track announcer Jim Beviglia, “In his last race the winner went 1:45.4, so Catch The Fire had an excuse”), but this win was by no means handed to him.

Ultimaroca left extremely fast from the rail and hung the Matt Kakaley-driven Catch The Fire well past a :25.4 quarter before finally yielding for the two-hole ride. Catch The Fire then rolled on to midrace fractions of :53.3 and 1:21, nearing the latter station joined by J M Mandamin, who made a challenge but could not sustain it though finishing second, 3½ lengths behind the winner and three-quarters of a length ahead of third place Ultimaroca.

Catch The Fire, whose mark of 1:47.2 was taken at The Meadowlands last year, on Saturday came within four-fifths of a second of the five-eighth mile track all-time standard of 1:47, reached here three times, once by Sweet Lou and twice by Always B Miki, who also reached that clocking at Scioto. Todd Luther trains the career winner of $1,361,274 for Black Magic Racing LLC and CT Stables LLC.

CATCH THE FIRE REPLAY

As noted, Catch The Fire equaled the Pocono seasonal standard for pacers of 1:47.4; one of the trotters tied for top in that column is Storm Is Raging (Explosive Matter), who during his current five-race winning streak at Pocono turned in a 1:52.1.

In a $17,500 co-feature Saturday the gelding “only” had to go in 1:52.4, putting down fractions of :28, :57.1, and 1:24.2 en route to a 5½ length triumph over Baldaquin under the guidance of Matt Kakaley, who added to his meet-leading win total with four victories for the day’s honors.

STORM IS RAGING REPLAY

Trained by Ron Burke, Storm Is Raging is owned by Carl Cocciolone, Mark Sosovicka, and Jack Piatt III, and it is significant to note that he pushed his earnings of $101,119, winning his way out of this class and promising contests against tougher foes.

In the pacing co-feature on a hot day, an oppositely-named horse to Catch The Fire, Casual Cool (American Ideal), proved dominant as well, making the lead and setting fractions of :26.2, :55.1, and 1:22.3 en route to a 1:49.4 success. Jim Pantaleano won with the gelding in this class for the second straight week, with the pacer upping his lifetime bankroll to $529,190; Daniel Renaud is the trainer of Casual Cool for Dune Road Stables LLC.

On Sunday’s 5 p.m. card at Pocono, there will be three $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All Stars event for two-year-old pacing fillies, and a $25,000 fast-class distaff pace. Program pages are available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/The Downs