Eight of the first 10 races at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 5) were won by favourites, including Red Power ($3.40) in the first of three $17,000 feature races. But the other features were in the next two races, and they went to longshots in Chuppah On ($34.80) and then Bang Bang Boinga ($88.20).
The Explosive Matter gelding Bang Bang Boinga raced third-inside most of the mile, but gained up into the pocket as the two-holer moved outside to challenge approaching the far bend. It was a cavalry charge to the finish, with all five payees within three-quarters of a length of each other at the wire. But Bang Bang Boinga’s charge up the "Pocono Pike" allowed him to get home first a neck ahead of the sweeping favourite So Long Hanover (that one’s sixth second in his last seven starts) while equaling his lifetime mark of 1:56 for trainer-driver Joe Poliseno and owner Mary Ellen Sarama.
The Art Major mare Chuppah On also sat third-in as the field approached the far turn, but in a scratch-reduced gathering that meant she was fifth and last. Chuppah On then put in a sharp last quarter of :27.2 to defeat pacesetter In Lou Of Money, also by a neck, for trainer Harry Landy and owner Sam Landy, while driver Tyler Buter recorded his fifth victory of the day.
The Tellitlikeitis gelding Red Power, the only feature winner to reward the public’s faith in him, didn’t have it easy. He had to go a quarter in :26.4 to make the lead, keep out a sustained middle-half challenge from Diamond Head, then ward off potential pocket-rocket Actor Hanover by a half length while reducing his mark to 1:50. Red Power has now won eight of 18 seasonal starts, with George Napolitano Jr. handling the driving duties Tuesday for trainer Brian Malone and owner Peter Paul Venturini.
(PHHA / Pocono)