Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt brought two heavy favourites to the $20,833 trotting features on Tuesday, November 12, at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. One contender entered off a win in a "non-winners of two races" event, while the other had triumphed in a Breeders Crown elimination two starts ago. The results, however, held a twist.
In the first feature, Father Patrick’s sophomore gelding "Ordained", now racing for top trainer Ron Burke, displayed impressive grit. With Tyler Buter in the bike, Ordained fired out of the gate, securing the lead and relegating Crown elim winner "Daiquiri Hanover" to the pocket. Ordained set a scorching pace of :28.1, :57.2, and 1:25.4 despite chilly mid-40s weather. Svanstedt launched Daiquiri Hanover in the stretch, but Ordained held on with a blazing :27.4 final quarter, winning by a neck in 1:53.3. Recently acquired by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC, and Frank Baldachino, Ordained proved to be a stellar addition.
Both Ordained and Daiquiri Hanover outclassed the field, finishing 14 lengths ahead of the third-place horse. Yet, that margin was eclipsed by Svanstedt’s second feature winner, the Father Patrick filly "Prominence". Prominence, racing for Pinske Stables, Melvin Hartman, and Little E LLC, effortlessly took the lead and extended her advantage to an astounding 16-1/4 lengths by the finish, clocking a career-best 1:55.
In the $20,833 pacing division for fillies, "Empty Nest", a three-year-old by American Ideal, claimed victory in 1:54.4. Guided by Anthony Napolitano and trained by Joe Pavia Jr., Empty Nest capitalised on a well-timed wide move, closing with a strong kick for Thomson Sisters Racing Stable.
If a race wasn’t a feature on Tuesday, it likely belonged to "Matt Kakaley", who celebrated six wins on the card. The two-time defending Pocono driving champion now holds a nine-win lead with just four racing days left in 2024.
As Pocono enters its final week of the season, fans can catch the action on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday at 1 p.m., culminating with a closing day card on Saturday, November 23, also starting at 1 p.m. The season’s end promises plenty more excitement at the mountain oval.