WILKES-BARRE PA – The Summer Wind made a big first-over move into the far turn and blew away her competition in the $15,500 mares featured pace Tuesday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning by 6½ lengths in 1:51.1.
Driver Jim Marohn Jr. kept the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover off a three-ply duel to the 26 quarter, then sent her up raw after favored leader Request For Parole before the 55 half.
The chalk still clung to a nose lead at the 1:23.2 3/4s, but the momentum was all behind the winner as she cruised away from the field, with Envious Hanover and Tataria claiming the minor honors. The $5.80 second choice of the Tuesday Pocono bettors, The Summer Wind is trained by Greg White for owners Charles Rowe and Lewis Whitaker Jr.
Marcus Miller continued to burnish his credentials as a master handler of longshots, as he got the most out of Energizer Ivy ($28.60) and Sheza Tim Too ($37.40), the latter a trotter with one win and no seconds in 65 previous career starts, but here a wire-to-wire winner while lowering her mark 2 3/5 seconds to 1:57.1 with Miller in the sulky.
Marcus is the leading producer of $50+ winners at the current Pocono meet with four, including two within three races on Sun Stakes Saturday Championship Night – which puts him in good position to defend his 2015 Pocono "title" in this category, having had five such bombers last year.
From the PHHA Media Department