We busted into the month of September this past week at Pocono with temperatures that still felt a lot like we were in the midst of the summer season instead of the tail end of it. Next week in this column we'll be detailing all the exploits on Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Saturday, featuring the state championships for all 3-year-old divisions. This week we feature some excellent overnight harness racing as we dole out the Weekly Awards.
PACER OF THE WEEK: MAYTIME TERROR
This 6-year-old gelding has put together quite a nice streak of racing the past few weeks, and, in doing so, has earned the respect of the handicappers. On August 15 at Pocono in a $20,000 to $25,000 claiming handicap, he went off at odds of 27-1, which was understandable since he went into the race winless in 14 2015 starts. But he rallied from far back with Joe Pavia Jr. in the bike for the upset victory.
When he raced the following week in the same class at Harrah's at Philadelphia, he was made the favorite and delivered the victory in 1:51:3. On Saturday night, the gelding, trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera, returned to face the $25,000 claimers at Pocono and went off as the even-money betting favorite. With George Napolitano Jr. in the bike this time around, he hustled to the lead at the quarter-pole from a #6 post position.
The fractions were rapid, but Maytime Terror sustained them with relative ease. In the stretch he had a nice lead built up and coasted to a 3½-length victory in a sharp 1:50:1. Not only has we won over the bettors, but the gelding has salvaged what seemed like a lost season just a month ago. And, with three straight wins under his belt, the near future looks as promising as his recent past.
Other top pacers this week include: Ontario Success (Marcus Miller, Ron Burke), who stepped up in class and still motored to his second straight condition win on Saturday night, this one in 1:50; K Ryan Bluechip (Joe Pavia Jr. driver and trainer), a 3-year-old gelding who blitzed a condition field on Tuesday night in 1:51:1 for his second straight victory; and Sudoku (Andrew McCarthy, Ross Croghan), a mare who moved up in class to win her third straight condition pace, the last two coming at Pocono and this one in a career-best time of 1:50:4.
TROTTER OF THE WEEK: PANAMANIAN HANOVER
Sometimes a change of scenery is all a horse needs to get going. Panamanian Hanover came to Pocono for a start on August 21 off a string of mediocre performances at Vernon Downs. Joining the barn of trainer Scott DiDomenico upon his arrival at Pocono, the 5-year-old gelding promptly built up his confidence with a victory over an $8,500 condition group in a career-best 1:54:1.
There was little time to get carried away with that success though. He was back at it on Tuesday night in a $13,000 condition group, which is a full three steps up the condition ladder from the class he beat in his first Pocono test. With the inside post in a field of eight, Panamanian Hanover got away fourth and watched as the heavy favorite Marion Monaco set the pace.
Panamanian Hanover's driver Joe Bongiorno decided to roll the dice and attempt to collar the leader first-over. Marion Monaco was game, fighting hard and parking his rival around the last turn. But Panamanian Hanover was relentless and finally wore down his foe, crossing the line a comfortable 2¼ lengths in front in 1:54, which reset his career mark. The gelding seems to like his new home, although his competitors at the track are probably wishing he keeps moving.
Honorable mention on the trotting side goes to: Sistas (George Napolitano Jr., Chris Oakes), a three-year-old filly who beat a condition group of mostly older horses on Saturday night in 1:55; Crazy About Pat (Anthony Napolitano, Paul Kelley), who followed up back-to-back wins at Saratoga with a condition win at Pocono on Tuesday night in a career-best 1:53:3; and Wisneheimer (George Napolitano Jr., Jenny Melander), who followed up a condition win at Harrah's with another here at Pocono on Wednesday night, matching a career-best of 1:53:1 in the process.
LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK: CRAZZYCRAZZY
Despite an outside post, this gelding with Andrew McCarthy in the bike shocked a field of claiming trotters on Friday night at 27-1, paying off $57.40 on a $2 win ticket.
DRIVER OF THE WEEK: ANDREW MCCARTHY
McCarthy drove elsewhere on Saturday and Sunday night, but he made the most of the time he had at Pocono this week, ripping off driving triples on Friday and Tuesday.
TRAINER OF THE WEEK: MARK FORD
With a training double on Friday night and another victory on Sunday night, Ford continued yet another fine campaign at Pocono.
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.
Jim Beviglia