18-1 Weather Vanes upsets in Pocono co-feature

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Odds-on favorite Portulaca (Donato Hanover) clicked in one of the two $15,000 featured harness racing trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon, but 18-1 shot Weather Vanes (Deweycheatumnhowe) set the pace and held on for the victory in the other division.

Despite winning in this class last week, Weather Vanes, trained and owned by David Hoover, was let go at long odds, with the crowd favoring Canadian newcomer Evil Guy and Mandrill, winner of three straight and a full sister to Gimpanzee. But driver Jim Pantaleano never looked back with Weather Vanes, setting soft early fractions of :28.3 and :58.4 over a track just rerated to “sloppy,” actually opening a clear lead to the 1:27.2 three-quarters, and then able to withstand a relentless late charge from Mandrill to prevail by a nose while equaling her mark.

WEATHER VANES REPLAY

Back when the track was rated “fast” despite intermittent precipitation, the sophomore filly Portulaca showed her appreciation of a drop from stakes company, also racing on the engine in splits of :28.2, :59, and 1:27.2, then maintained a length margin over pocketsitting Quarantina to the finish in 1:56.1. George Napolitano Jr. guided the winner for trainer Kathleen La Montagne, also co-owner with Donald La Montagne.

PORTULACA REPLAY

23-year-old Braxten Boyd, now up to fifth in the Pocono drivers standings, visited Victory Lane four times during the afternoon’s racing.

The racing week concludes at Pocono with a 1 p.m. program on Tuesday. 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