A pair of nicely-pedigreed distaffs paced back to their distinguished bloodlines in taking the co-featured pacing events at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday.
Encore Deo, a sophomore daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven whose second dam is the $3.7 million-winning Eternal Camnation, rallied from the pocket to catch I Said Please by a half-length in taking the $16,000 “F/M nw 5 races” pace in 1:52.3.
Despite showing a 1:51.4 time at Vernon in a NYSS consolation last time, the rail, and the talented backing of driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Ron Burke, Encore Deo was dismissed at 10-1 – the 20-race losing streak, dating back 53 weeks, may have had something to do with the odds – but she was able to rally for the tally for the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jason Mellilo, and Lawrence Karr.
Gweneeee J, a full sister to millionaires Heston Blue Chip and Sunfire Blue Chip, made every pole a winning one in taking a $14,000 conditioned mares co-feature in 1:51.3.
The daughter of American Ideal won by a length over pocket-sitting Mystical Nectar while scoring for driver Jim Marohn, Jr., trainer Linda Toscano, and the KJ Stables LLC, who saw their mare raise her career earnings to $155,817.
(PHHA/Pocono)