Pocono: Buter red-hot on opening day

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono got its "2020 Meet 2.0" underway on Saturday afternoon after a 103-day delay because of the health restrictions - and driver Tyler Buter, who won the last local race before the layoff, came back red-hot with five driving victories, including the four upper-class races described below.

Prairie Panther was sent right to the lead by Buter in the $17,200 featured pace, forcing tucks before a 26 3/5 quarter then getting a breather to a 56 half. Our Max Phactor N made the leader pick up the pace with an uncovered challenge, and the two battled to a 1:23 1/5 three-quarters and all the way through the last quarter, with Prairie Panther staying a neck to the good in the 1:51 mile. The victorious Royal Millennium gelding certainly has the winning habit, as he posted his 37th career triumph in 76 races for trainer Mike Deters, co-owner with Laurie Lee Poulin.

The fastest winner on the Saturday afternoon card was the unusually-named Irish-bred Gentlemanjim II IE (“ie” is the internet country code for the Republic of Ireland). The Kikikolt gelding, in only his second U.S. start, stormed the third quarter in 26 1/5 for Buter to clear to the lead and drew off to a new mile mark of 1:50 4/5. Gentlemanjim II IE appears to be one from whom more will be heard for trainer Robert Cleary, who leases a share of the horse with owner/lessee John Richardson.

A pair of $11,200 events topped the day's trotting action. In the first, the Muscle Massive gelding Two AM raised his lifetime bankroll to $455,285 with a sharp 1:53 3/5 victory despite the outside post eight for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Todd Buter, and owners Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs. The second diamond-gaited event saw driver Buter complete a sweep of the top trots with the Explosive Matter gelding Marion Gondolier, who rallied steadily behind a fast pace and was along late in 1:54 3/5 for trainer Mike Watson and owner Cliff Grundy.

Racing resumes on Sunday night with a first post at 7 p.m. – the only occasion where the Sunday action will start at this time. The Pocono basic schedule for now will consist of Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday racing at 12:30 p.m., and future Sunday cards beginning at 5 p.m.

-edited release (PHHA/Pocono)