WILKES-BARRE PA – A pair of well-bred three-year-old harness racing maidens making their 2020 purse debut – the pacer coming off three qualifying wins, the trotter making his pari-mutuel bow – posted win times surpassed by nobody on their respective gaits on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
First up was Party Whip, a Somebeachsomewhere colt out of Hedgie Blue Chip, a full sister to the $1.7M winner Hypnotic Blue Chip.
The youngster was looped out of the gate then raced up to the lead, set a fast pace with pressure from odds-on Lou's Sweetrevenge, yet still was able to hold off that rival by a length in 1:51.4.
The pairing of driver Corey Callahan and trainer John Butenschoen added another victory to their recent form skein as Party Whip won for William Wiswell, Jean Goehnlen, and Eugene Schick.
Party Whip
Trainer/driver Ãke Svanstedt is known for having his charges ready to fire as soon as they get to the races, and such was the case here with Harley K, a colt by Sebastian K S (with whom Ãke set the world record for 5/8-mile tracks right here).
Harley K went first-over, showed a touch of greenness drifting out a bit towards headstretch (where the Pocono paddock is), but was straightened out by Svanstedt to catch a tough Solar by a head in 1:54.2.
Out of Caviar Session, a full sister to world champions Triumphant Caviar and Centurion ATM, the promising sophomore is owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc., Little E LLC, and Kenneth Kjellgren.
Harley K
PHHA / Pocono