Driver Matt Kakaley, atop the standings at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, further added to his lead by recording seven victories on the Monday afternoon card, including both of the $15,000 trotting features.
The Tactical Landing sophomore filly Tactical Mounds got away from tough opponents in New Jersey and promptly won over Monday’s sloppy going in 1:54.1 to take a new mark in the quicker cut. Kakaley went on with this filly from the outside post seven, grinding up to the lead at the three-eighths, and from there, she won by 2-3/4 lengths in a most impressive fashion for trainer Megan Scran and Thestable Tactical Mounds.
Swanky Hanover (pictured above), the sophomore full sister to Manchego who brought $700,000 as a yearling, is on a run while showing the winning ways of her sibling, running her 2023 record to three-for-four by taking the other co-feature in 1:56.2 over the sloppy going. Backers of the 7-5 favourite may have been a little nervous nearing the half as the Muscle Hill miss was in fourth-over position, but less than an eighth of a mile later she was second-over as the original second-over broke and the first-over brushed to the lead. Swanky Hanover followed good cover, swung three-wide on the far turn, and the filly won by two lengths for Jeffrey and Michael Snyder. The victory ran trainer Marcus Melander’s 2023 record at Pocono to 21-13-2-2, which figures out to a 62 win percentage and a UTR of .704.
Kakaley also won with Riot ($5.20) for trainer William Mullen, One Hundred Poof ($4) for Jenny Melander, Southwind Desi ($8.80) for Lucas Wallin, Lady Lira ($3.80) for Robert Baggitt Jr. and Gratian Hanover ($3.20) for Jennifer Bongiorno.
The racing week closes out on Tuesday with a 1 p.m. card. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association website.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)