Walner colts rule at Pocono

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The star-crossed racehorse and prolific stallion Walner sired both three-year-old harness racing trotting colts who won the $15,000 featured events on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 18) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The faster of the two features fell to Ken’s Walner, coming to Pocono off a recent win at The Meadowlands and success in Kentucky stakes. Tyler Buter, who with Marcus Miller topped the Tuesday driver’s colony with four sulky successes, guided the chalk to controlling position before a :28.1 opener, rated the half to :58, then got an extended challenge from close second choice Hand Dover Dan through and past a 1:26.2 three-quarters. Try as he might, Hand Dover Dan could not catch Ken’s Walner, and in midstretch he went to a break, and was placed from second to third as 60-1 shot TNT Blue Chip was lapped on him at the wire. Noel Daley trains the winner for owner Ken Jacobs.

KEN’S WALNER REPLAY

In the other division, favored Street Smarts kept his early lead to the wire in a 1:57.4 success. Matt Kakaley, the meet’s top driver, guided the sophomore to the point nearing the :29.2 quarter, got soft middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.1, then held off late challengers to both sides, with Awsome Paul to his right a half-length behind at the finish and Pocono Pike-shooting Heart Matters a nose behind the second horse.

Street Smarts races for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.

STREET SMARTS REPLAY

Five different trainers sent out two winners Tuesday: Tom Cancelliere, Bruce Clarke, Noel Daley, Nifty Norman, and Darren Taneyhill.

Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., with a $17,500 contest on each gait topping a highly competitive card. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available by clicking here.

For full race results, click here.

From the PHHA/The Downs