WILKES-BARRE PA – What's the surest sign that harness racing is about to enter its "prime time" of the year?
Is it the shipping of stables from warmer climes to the North?
Is it the start of the many classy stakes scattered throughout the season?
Is it the return of the weekly "Top Ten" poll?
No, no, and no.
The surest sign of harness racing's ready to enter the seasonal "fast track" is, ironically, a group of colts or fillies going slowly an extra lap of a racetrack before the beginning of a morning race. Their drivers are talking back and forth, to each other, to the starter, and to their horses, getting them ready for when the starter springs the gate in front of them – and they start out in their first "baby race."
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono offered three races exclusively for two-year-olds during its Thursday morning program of qualifiers.
The first winner was the Shadow Play filly Miss Read, who rallied from the pocket with a 28.2 last quarter (2:01) to defeat another late charger, Nip's Beach Girl, for driver Howard Parker. Trainer Leigh Raymer may have a bargain on her hands here, as the filly cost her and Tyler Raymer only $5500 despite the fact that the mare had produced three $100,000 winners – and now has a promising baby to her credit.
Team Raymer came right back with a Donato Hanover colt, Mr Right, whom Tyler sent to the top after the quarter, then flashed home in 58.3 – 29 to complete a 2:01.3 victory for Leigh, who co-owns with Stephen Moss, Harold Solomon, and Helene Solomon. Mr Right, aptly-named to date, was a $25,000 yearling purchase, and he is out of a dam who is a sister to the $600G winner Somebody To Love.
In the third baby race, driver Brewer Adams stole a 1:05.2 half with the American Ideal colt Gaius Crastinus, then zipped him home in a pair of 29s to hold off first-over Kiss Baby Kiss, wrapping up the package in 2:03.2. Jennifer Sabot conditions the colt, out of a dam whose sister is well-known $1M winner Feeling You, for owner/breeder Marilee Keene. (The winner, by the way, is named after one of Caesar's most trusted lieutenants in the Gallic Wars – yes, I had to look it up.)
PHHA / Pocono