Oct 6, 2011 | Racing, Uncategorized
October arrived with wet weather and cold temperatures across much of the Northeast, and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs wasn’t spared from the dreary stuff. Luckily, that weather didn’t put a damper on any of the great action, as some standout performances were to be found across the five racing programs last week. Here are some of the best of those efforts, honored, as always, by our Weekly Awards.
PACER OF THE WEEK: CINDERELLA GUY
There were several excellent candidates for this award this week, but we’re going with this gelding from the Ken Rucker barn for his excellent performance among the highest levels of the pacing ranks. Cinderella Guy was having a solid season heading into the fall, but he has really picked up the pace as the leaves have begun changing. On September 24, he knocked off a front-running victory over the non-winners of $22,000 pacers, scoring in 1:50:2.
On Saturday night, like the rest of the competition, he had to deal with a relentless rain and a sloppy track at Pocono. In addition, he was stepping up in class to the winners of over $25,000 grouping, a class that is just a notch below the Open pacers. Yet there he was once again on the front end, spurred on by driver Tyler Buter, daring the field to try and catch him.
Well, they couldn’t catch him. Cinderella Guy was just too powerful, hustling home to win by 1 ½ lengths. The winning time of 1:51:3 was hard-earned, especially considering the track conditions. The gelding has earned over $132,000 this year along, and Saturday night’s victory was the 25th of his outstanding career.
Other top pacers this week include: Wahine (Tyler Buter, Tony Alagna), who starred in the Equinox series for 2-year-olds on Thursday afternoon with a win over the pacing colts and geldings in 1:54, his second straight win in the series and his 5th victory in 7 lifetime races; Forever Ivy (Matt Kakaley, Charlie Norris), who ripped off her third straight win by taking the featured fillies and mares pace on Wednesday night in 1:51:4; and Stonebridge Tonic (Anthony Napolitano, Mark Ford), whose Open win on Saturday night in 1:50:3 gave him five straight wins at four different tracks.
TROTTER OF THE WEEK: MACHO LINDY
Back in 2008, before the era of blistering times at Pocono, Macho Lindy came out one afternoon in a condition trot and blew the field away to the tune of 1:52, which at the time was the fastest mile ever trotted on a 5/8-mile oval in North America. Even now, three years later, only a few miles faster have ever been trotted at Pocono, and Macho Lindy’s time still stands as a track record for 4-year-old geldings.
He has continued to have success in the interim, and a few weeks back he returned to MSPD after spending much of the summer at Chester. His first start back on September 23 was over before it began when he made a rare break. On Friday night, Macho Lindy, now in the Ron Coyne Jr. barn, found himself in the featured winners of over $25,000 lifetime trot.
Leaving from post position #7, the 7-year-old veteran gunned to the front end under the guidance of driver George Napolitano Jr. Once there, the old Pocono muscle memory kicked in, and he held up against intense pressure. Macho Lindy came out on top by a neck in 1:54:3 over a top-flight field. No records broken this time around, but it was, nonetheless, a scintillating return.
Honorable mention on the trotting side goes to: Pembroke Prayer (George Napolitano Jr., Mark Ford), a shipper from New York who scored in Friday night’s other division of the winners of over $25,000 lifetime class, doing so in 1:54:4; Groom Hanover (Joe Pavia Jr., Fred Grant), who followed up a win at The Meadows with a condition win at Pocono on Friday night in 1:57:2; and Ashcroft (Mike Simons, Gail Wrubel), whose claiming win on Wednesday was his second straight upset victory and came in a career-best time of 1:56:1.
LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK: WINDELL WINKIE
The shipper came into a condition trot on Friday night with 4 wins in 9 starts in 2011, yet he was still a 35-1 shot when he rallied for the victory, paying out $73.20 on a $2 win ticket.
DRIVER OF THE WEEK: GEORGE NAPOLITANO JR.
George has been keeping a particularly hot pace of late, as he ripped off multiple wins in several cards this week, highlighted by a five-bagger on Friday.
TRAINER OF THE WEEK: LINDA SCHADEL
Year in and year out, Linda does an excellent job with the trotters. She scored two trotting wins on Thursday, including an Equinox series victory with Keystone Tempo.
That will do it for this week, but we’ll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].
Jul 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
WHAT: Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ Reality Check returns with reality TV star Teresa Giudice of The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Tuesday, July 26th for a special public signing event set to take place outside of Rustic Kitchen.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
8:30pm
Concourse Outside Rustic Kitchen
IN DETAIL: Teresa will be meeting fans and signing copies of her latest cookbook Fabulicious outside of Rustic Kitchen.
**Mogo will have copies of Fabulicious for purchase on the day of and leading up to this event at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ Signature Events provide an exciting lineup offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet some of your favorite celebrities and more! For more information, visit mohegansunpocono.com.
ABOUT TERESA: Growing up with parents who emigrated from Italy, New York Times best-selling author Teresa Giudice, the striking, tell-it-like-it-is star of Bravo’s hit television series The Real Housewives of New Jersey, had the best of both worlds: modern America outside her door, and Old World Italy in her kitchen. As a busy working mother of four young children, Teresa always makes time to make homemade meals because she learned from her own mother: “When you cook from the heart, your entire family feeds on the love.”
In her much-anticipated second cookbook FABULICIOUS! Teresa’s Italian Family Cookbook, Teresa combines her two passions—food and family—in 60 more Giudice family recipes straight from Salerno with an emphasis on preparing, serving and eating meals with the ones you love.
May 27, 2011 | Uncategorized
Live dance performances, free signing events, cooking shows and more this summer
WILKES-BARRE, PA – The action is hot on and off the gaming floor at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs this summer with the third annual Hot Summer Fun celebration. As part of the summer-long festivities, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will host several live events throughout the summer including their Signature Events such as Reality Check, Signings & Sightings, cooking shows and more!
On Saturday, June 18th, recently named Season 12 winner of Dancing with the Stars, Kym Johnson, along with a professional name partner, will take part in Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ Reality Check program. This unique, free and exclusive dance performance will take place at 4:00pm in Breakers followed by an autograph session on the Sky Bridge at 4:45pm.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs also will be home to several Signings & Sightings events in June with some of the best harness racing drivers around. Each Saturday from 5:00pm – 6:00pm, guests can meet their favorite drivers including: Matt Kakaley on June 4th, Brandon Simpson on June 11th, Andrew McCarthy on June 18th and Joe Pavia, Jr. on June 25th. As a reminder, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs has live harness racing every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Guests can watch the action from the grandstand or clubhouse. Post time is 6:30pm.
Guests can also watch the third and final leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday, June 11th. The 143rd Belmont Stakes will be broadcast at the clubhouse and on the big screen at the track. Guests can enjoy a special signature “Belmont Breeze” in the clubhouse and at the patio bars.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will also host the inaugural Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial Trot on Saturday, June 25th. The trot, with a purse of $500,000, will honor the Pennsylvania Harness Horseman’s Association’s long-serving and most influential president, Mr. Earl Beal, Jr.
Race fans can also enjoy Friday Nights Under the Lights with a party on the track each Friday night throughout Hot Summer Fun. Live entertainment and food and drink specials will be offered. Racing Reward members can bring a friend to sign up and earn $10.00 in Free Racing Wagers. Visit poconodowns.com/racing for more information.
Ever wonder how your favorite meal is prepared? Well at Rustic Kitchen inside Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs you can find out with Cooking with Kate. Every Friday night during Hot Summer Fun, Chef Kate Gabriele will host a live cooking show inside Rustic Kitchen Bistro & Bar.
In addition to these great events, Bar Louie and Breakers will be home to some great live music. Visit mohegansunpocono.com for a complete list of entertainment at both venues or for more information on Hot Summer Fun at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
For a complete list of offers or for more information on Hot Summer Fun at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, please visit poconodowns.com/entertainment/hot-summer-fun.html.
Oct 7, 2010 | Racing, Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 5, 2010)—The Quiet Village, driven and trained by Matt Roman, was making some “noise” at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Tuesday night.
Sitting fourth for the first half of the mile, Romano came first over with The Quiet Village down the backstretch on a sloppy track and kept grinding it out before winning the $25,000-$30,000 claiming handicap pace with a time of 1:54.3.
This was the fifth win of the year for the nine-year-old Village Jasper gelding owned by C&F Associates of Hillside, NJ.
Longshots Air McNair (Marcus Johansson) finished second in this race with third-place going to Iza Believer (Tom Jackson).
The $2 Trifecta of 4-6-8 returned a whopping $3,913.60.
George Napolitano Jr., North America’s leading driver, collected three wins through the first 10 races of the 16-race card. Two of his wins were for trainer Carmine Fusco.
Oct 7, 2010 | Racing, Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The last Breeders Crown elim for filly trotter sophs went to Behindclosedoors at Pocono Downs, Oct. 2. The mile went in 1:54.3.
Munis Blue Chip took the top early with Merger Blue Chip until that one broke.
But from the rail “Behindclose” was not content to take a pocket trip; she took over and cruised through a half in :56.2, moving onto three-quarters in 1:24.2 and soaring home with daylight between the finish line and second-place Impressive Kemp.
Dave Palone, who drove, said he thought he was going to follow Bar Slide but he changed his tactics and went to the top, where she was satisfied to stay the rest of the way.
Merger Blue Chip regained her gait after the early jump and managed to finish third.
Chuck Sylvester trains the filly, owned by Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee.
Oct 7, 2010 | Uncategorized
By JAY BERGMAN
Just how tough was the New York Sire Stakes program this year? As Frank said, “If you can make it there you can make it anywhere.” Well, on Friday night we’ll find out if anywhere is Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and if that somebody is two-year-old trotting colt Dejarmbro.
It’s hard not to be fascinated by a beautiful dark brown two-year-old trotting colt that was virtually unbeaten racing on the half-mile tracks in New York. Virtually, we say because on two occasions he was disturbed by breakers and lost his stride. But let’s just say when Dejarmbro didn’t run into road trouble he treated his rivals like was the model of excellence.
The Purple Haze Stables LLC (Wanda Polisseni)-owned colt was plucked from last year’s Harrisburg sale for $65,000 by the husband and wife-training team of Howard and Jessica Okusko. “He was a big handsome colt,” recalled Jessica. “Ed Gold told us to look at the Fair Winds Farm consignment. We loved the colt when we saw him and were very lucky to get him.”
For the Okuskos who maintain a training base at Vernon Downs, Dejarmbro did everything right from the start. He had the usual sickness that young horses get in the spring but by the time the racing season came around he was ready. “We put the hobbles on him before we were ready to qualify,” noted Jessica. “There are some difficult half mile tracks in New York and you just don’t want them to make a mistake.”
Driver Jeff Gregory picked up the driving assignment behind the Credit Winner-sired colt in his second start at Tioga Downs on August 1. The pair came from off the pace with an effortless 2:00 trip winning by open lengths.
The colt got involved in an early speed duel at Batavia two weeks later but was resilient in an incredible 1:58.4 mile. Gregory who appears rather low key when it comes to this horse, gave him high marks nonetheless. “You can pretty much do anything you want with him. He’s got a great mouth and can grind all day.”
At his home track on September 2 Dejarmbro showed his ability to sprint at both ends of the mile leaving in a :27.4 clip and coming home in :28 flat to score in a career best 1:55.3 mile.
Post seven and eight are usually killers for juvenile trotters going around half-mile tracks but Dejarmbro easily overcame those obstacles with consecutive NYSS preliminary scores at Yonkers and Monticello in early September.
As difficult as the NYSS circuit can be with so many legs and multiple wins needed to qualify for the final, Dejarmbro came into the $200,000 final last week poised for the challenge. The colt from an outstanding maternal family which includes former Breeders Crown champion Armbro Flori, was pushed to the limit having to race overland. In the end the long journey proved fruitful with Dejarmbro overtake pacesetter Surface Tension and holding off Whitewater Rapids in an unreal 1:57 mile. That mark broke the track standard by 2 full seconds.
“I don’t think he was at his best in the final,” said Gregory. “I think he will be better on the big track.”
Both Gregory and Okusko see that nothing fazes this colt. “It’s like a game to him,” said Jessica, “he goes out and plays and has fun.”
Owner Polisseni has fun too says Okusko. “She’s the greatest owner. She comes to the barn regularly to see her horses and enjoys it tremendously. She brings 50 pounds of carrots and loves to treat her horses well.”
Driver Gregory has proven over the years to be a solid force in the sulky and has been among the top drivers wherever he races. Currently a regular at Yonkers, he did much of his racing in earlier years upstate New York and has been friends with the Okuskos for more than 20 years. He’s even-keeled, which is a great quality to have when steering young trotters in big races.
“I don’t know how he’ll be racing against this caliber of horse after racing in New York,” said the driver, “But I don’t think he’ll embarrass himself.”
In addition to drawing post eight in one of three $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination fields for juvenile colt trotters this Friday, Dejarmbro faces a solid group that includes two speedy colts from the Jimmy Takter stable. Both Leader of the Gang and Johnny B Kemp sport sub-1:56 marks this season.
The luck of the draw went to lucky Chuck Sylvester who will send out Live Jazz, an Andover Hall-sired colt that has been kept away from the big races thus far but steps into the limelight off back-to-back 1:56.4 miles first at Chester Downs and then last week in a division of the Standardbred at Delaware.
For team Okusko a big effort by Dejarmbro in the Breeders Crown will be the icing on the cake of a dream season. The pair managed to capture two NYSS Championships last week when Dejarmbro’s stablemate three-year-old Blacktuxwhitesox, also by Credit Winner, won his division for the second straight year.
