Tri-features held at Pocono Downs

WILKES-BARRE, PA – A trio of $15,000 conditioned harness racing features for developing horses highlighted the first Sunday (April 2) evening card of the season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

In the feature division for pacing mares, the Heston Blue Chip sophomore filly Romantic Evening was ready in her second start of the campaign, grinding to the lead at the three-quarter pole and going on to reduce her mark a tick to 1:52.2. Tyler Buter drove the Nifty Norman trainee for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC.

ROMANTIC EVENING REPLAY

In the companion event for pacing males, Comet Crusader N (Betting Line) took full advantage of starting from the rail, working out a pocket trip for driver Anthony Napolitano and rallying inside to lower his mark to 1:52.3. Mike Deters trains Comet Crusader N, and he shares ownership of him with Joel Warner, John Manning, and John Spindler.

COMET CRUSADER N REPLAY

The trotting event for the up-and-coming set saw the 35-1 shot Zette Flame (Love You) make a big move nearing the far turn and went on to catch the 1-9 pacesetter Bright Side Up late while taking a mark of 1:55.1. He was driven by Matt Kakaley for owner/trainer Cozette McAvoy.

ZETTE FLAME REPLAY

There was also a $14,500 fast-class event for pacing mares, in which the team of driver Anthony Napolitano and trainer Mike Deters again took the big end of a purse after a pocket trip, winning with Prairie Westerngal (Western Ideal) in 1:52.3. The mare pushed her earnings to $318,474 for the ownership of Deters, Joel Warner, and Patricia Fritz.

PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL REPLAY

Monday’s 1 p.m. card will feature three $9000 divisions of the first preliminary in a Game Of Claims Series for pacers with a base price of $10,000. The Pocono week expands to four cards a week on Tuesday, with a Game Of Claims event for $25,000 base-priced trotters going in five $20,000 divisions of the initial prelim. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs