The chalk emerged victorious in the twin $16,000 featured paces at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Tuesday (July 18) afternoon, with Joemikiyoursofine triumphing in the division for males and Proud Mary the winner in the group of females.
The three-year-old Always B Miki gelding Joemikiyoursofine certainly earned his victory, as he spotted fourth late on the first turn for driver George Napolitano Jr., then came out without cover down the backstretch to contend for command. Joemikiyoursofine and pocket-sitting Lousain Bolt, using the Pocono Pike, were the main contenders approaching the wire, with “Joemiki” emerging a half a length to the good in 1:51.4. Chris Choate trains the winner for Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies.
Proud Mary posted her second straight win despite coming off a “sick” scratch, coming home first in 1:52.2. Matt Kakaley moved the sophomore Sweet Lou filly to the lead in front of the stands and maintained control to the wire, with My Hungry Girl shooting up the inside but coming up three-quarters of a length short. Chris Ryder trains the winner, third in her PA Sire Stakes Championship last year, for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC.
There was a double carryover going into Tuesday’s Pick-5 on races eight through 12, and despite that fact, four of the eight entrants in the final race would have caused yet another carryover had they won. Favoured Keystone Apache came through in the last leg, though, but lucky ticketholders still received a healthy $1,202.48 payoff on the basic-price 20-cent ticket.
Racing returns to the mountain oval on Saturday (July 22) at 1 p.m. During Sunday’s (July 23) 6 p.m. card, there will be two $35,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars events for two-year-old filly pacers; among the entrants is Lyons Legend, already a double Sire Stakes winner and undefeated in three career starts. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)