Harry Knows IR made favorite in Pocono debut

The Irish harness racing trotting champion, Harry Knows IR (Amstrong Jet), will make his first start ever on a five-eighths mile track when he debuts at Pocono Downs Saturday, March 18.

The six-year-old French-bred gelding, who was conceived, foaled and raced in Ireland until recently exported to compete in the USA by breeder and owner Patrick Kane, is the mild 5/2 favorite in the 6^th race trot on Saturday.

He will be driven by Lauren Tritton, whose husband Shane, has been training the horse since it arrived in the USA back in December of 2022. Lauren has driven Harry Knows IR in his last two starts, both of which were victories, the most impressive was last week.

Starting from the far outside in post 9 at The Meadowlands last week, Lauren Tritton left with Harry Knows IR, was third on the outside at the first quarter, then worked his way to the lead and then cruised home a winner by three and one-quarters lengths in an amazing time of 1:52.4.

HARRY KNOWS IR REPLAY

That was a lifetime mark for Harry Knows IR and his 25^th career win.

“We had a mini-watch party,” said owner Patrick Kane from Summerhill Meath, Ireland. “The race went off at 1:00 am here, so it wasn’t too bad.

“I was very impressed with his run on Saturday,” Kane added. “He was outside from the nine hole to a sharp half, and he was still trotting through the wire in a very good time.

“It is nice when they go a fast time,” Kane said. “But the winning of the race is the most important thing. Maybe he can trot faster, we won’t know till the gun is put to his head. As he moves up in grade, I’m sure that will happen sooner rather than later.”

“We have a lot of faith in Harry,” said trainer Shane Tritton. “We have staked him fairly heavily including some of the biggest trot races at the Meadowlands this year, so we do expect big things from Harry, but our job is to keep him happy and healthy, and the rest is up to him.”

It won’t be a walk in the park for Harry Knows IR on Saturday as it is his first time ever at Pocono Downs, so he has to get accustomed to the new racing surface and he is facing four other return winners in the field.

Second choice in the race is Chiplosive (George Napolitano, Jr.), who starts alongside Harry Knows IR in post 8. Chiplosive, while not a return winner, in fact, this is his 8^th start of the year and he is still looking for his first triumph, has been second four times for the Jeff Cullipher Stable.

Along with Harry Knows IR, Mushana (post 1), Say You Do (post 3) and Jula Magician (post 4), all of won their last two starts.

The fastest mile belongs to Marion Gondolier (post 7) who was a sick scratch last week but prior had wired the field at Pocono Downs in 1:55.3 for driver Anthony Napolitano.

How does Shane Tritton feel after “Harry’s” lifetime mark last week?

“He certainly has a big motor,” Tritton explained. “And we don’t believe we have asked him for his best yet. Our fingers are crossed for a nice run Saturday. The track should really suit him.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink