Pilgrims Tide romps in The Downs feature

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Pilgrims Tide, who had been first and second in his last two starts at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono but not faring as well in excursions to Yonkers, returned to the mountain oval on Tuesday afternoon and during the last half left his foes in the red dust, going on to a new mark of 1:54.1 in the $12,800 claiming handicap trotting feature.

Several horses took a shot at the victorious Muscle Massive gelding during early fractions of :27.2 and :56.3, but none succeeded; from there, Pilgrims Tide was all alone on the lead (except for driver Simon Allard), passing the three-quarters in 1:24.2 and coasting home to a 7½ length victory. Shane Tritton trains the winner of $175,657 for owner Nicholas Catalano.

Another Muscle Massive gelding, the sophomore Focus Pocus, got in a solid prep race for his $25,000 Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championship this coming Monday at The Meadows, going to the lead and holding off the field in 1:55.4 in a $10,400 trotting contest. First and second in his last two fair starts against all-time PA Fair trot recordholder Manhattanup No Ice and third in a recent Keystone Classic division behind Amigo Volo, Focus Pocus looks in prime form for his owners, trainer Linda Schadel and driver Tony Schadel.

Trainer Jim Ray has sent out only 27 starters in 2020, winning four times, but he's a conditioner to watch out for, as a $2 bet on each his charges would have returned a 526% profit. Tied with Tom Wine II as the only trainers with three $50+ horses at the meet, Ray's latest "bomber" was Frac, who came from ninth and last off a hotly-contested pace for driver Kevin Wallis, getting up late to pay $98.60 to his very scattered $2 win backers. Ray co-owns the winner of $259,615 with David Wisser.

Anthony Napolitano led all drivers with three victories during the Tuesday afternoon card, giving him thirteen during the present three-day Pocono workweek of Saturday-Sunday-Tuesday.

From the PHHA / The Downs