Over the past few weeks, racing fans at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs have been treated to some excellent action featuring two-year-old pacers and trotters. It’s been a part of the Equinox Late Closer series put together by our Director of Racing Rick Kane, and it culminated last Friday night with four $40,000 finals. Those finals were one of the highlights of an exciting racing week, so let’s honor those excellent freshmen in this edition of the Weekly Awards.
PACER OF THE WEEK: SHADY BREEZE
One of the most fascinating things about two-year-old horses is that they’re still in the process of defining who they are. It’s hard to know what to expect from week to week in terms of performance, obviously, but it’s also hard for horsemen in control of these youngsters to gauge how to handle them. Luckily, driver Mike Simons was versatile enough to handle what Shady Breeze threw at him on Friday night in the Equinox final for colts and geldings on the pace.
In his previous start in the series, the 2-year-old ridgling from the barn of trainer Judith Welty picked up a win by waiting until the last possible moment and uncorking a furious stretch move. Considering all of the early speed congregated in the final, including heavy favorite Wahine, it seemed like Shady Breeze would try to take the same path. Instead, he soared to the front end and dared everyone to catch him.
As the stretch arrived, it seemed like Shady Breeze might give way to the closers lining up behind him. Instead, Simons got him to dig in for all he was worth, and he emerged with the victory by a length, pacing the mile in 1:52:3. I’m not sure what style he’ll choose next time, but it seems a safe bet that Shady Breeze will be tough to beat from here on out.
Other top pacers this week include: McSauna (Andrew McCarthy, Scott DiDomenico), who sustained a first-over trip to take the Equinox final for pacing fillies in 1:53; JJ Gladiator (Joe Pavia Jr. Rob Harmon), who won his second straight race at the top of the Pocono claiming ladder on Saturday night in a career-best time of 1:49:4; and Natural Woman N (Joe Pavia Jr., Brian Seidel), who churned out her second straight victory and fourth win out of five with a claiming handicap conquest on Wednesday night in 1:53:2.
TROTTER OF THE WEEK: DELICIOUS
One of the prerequisites of competing in the Equinox series was that a horse was not allowed to have more than $50,000 in career earnings as of August 25. In this way, the series was set up more for horses still learning the game in the earliest stages of their careers. At least that was the theory, until Delicious entered the picture in the trotting fillies group already looking every bit the champion.
Oddly enough, a break of stride prevented her from winning her first try in the series, although she recovered to get 3rd in that race a few weeks ago. She followed that up with a win at The Meadows last time out, and returned to Pocono brimming with confidence for trainer Ron Gurfein.
After an early battle for the lead produced some scorching fractions, Delicious was sent first-over by driver Matt Kakaley on the back stretch. She left a bunch of helpless horses in her wake, looking every bit the 1-9 favorite in a nine-length romp. Her winning time was a stunning 1:55, just two-fifths of a second shy of a new track record. The rest of the Equinox series might have been all about talented newcomers, but this filly performed like an established superstar.
Honorable mention on the trotting side goes to: Blokbuster Hanover (Matt Kakaley, Richard Johnson), who stunned the field in the Equinox final for trotting colts and geldings by going gate to wire for his maiden win in 1:58:4; Rose Run Hooligan (George Napolitano Jr., Rene Allard), who shipped in from Canada to trot 1:53:3, the fastest time of the week, in a condition victory on Saturday night; and P L Conjure (Tyler Buter, Tyler Raymer), who followed up back-to-back wins at Yonkers with a scorching condition win on Saturday night in 1:54:1.
LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK: MISS WAPWALLOPEN
The mare had been struggling of late, but, with Mike Simons in the bike, she showed her poise in a claiming handicap trot Tuesday night by sneaking up to win at 50-1, paying off $103.00 to win.
DRIVER OF THE WEEK: MATT KAKALEY
It’s been another solid week for the meet’s leading driver. Now over 250 wins on the season at Pocono, Matt ripped off five victories on Friday, including two scores in the Equinox finals.
TRAINER OF THE WEEK: RENE ALLARD
The Canadian trainer made his first appearance at Pocono this summer, and he’s been steadily racking up wins ever since. He picked up big training victories this week on both Friday and Saturday.
That will do it for this week, but we’ll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me at jbeviglia@mohegansunpocono.com.