For the second consecutive week, the Four Starzzz Shark gelding Epaulette A was victorious in the top-level conditioned pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning the $21,500 contest in 1:50.4.
Perennial top-local-driver George Napolitano Jr. had the fast leaver on top by the eighth pole, but past a :27.1 quarter Eddard Hanover made a quick move towards the lead. Epaulette A parked that challenger and quickened the pace to a :54 half, shaking away the threat passed a 1:21.4 third quarter.
Through the stretch Napolitano kept the winner of $219,122 on the bit, and no one could get close to him in the lane. Black Chevron N, who hugged the inside through, came throught the passing to be second, one-and-three-quarter lengths behind, with Soho Wallstreet A overcoming bad early luck to rally for third behind the victorious Aussie-bred, trained by Hunter Oakes for the Northfolk Racing Stable.
Earlier in the card the veteran Rocknroll Hanover gelding Rockeyed Optimist showed sharp form that could increase his $680,508 lifetime bankroll dramatically, overcoming post seven in 1:51.1. Mitchell Cushing left and tucked third early, then sent his charge to the lead in front of the stands and kicked well clear of his opposition for trainer Jack Leamon, who shares ownership with Stephen Moss, Joseph Battaglia, and Virginia Berkner.
Once again the Pocono claiming box was a beehive of activity. Five claiming events produced 14 horses who were led back to new barns at the end of their miles, with $231,250 changing hands as stables seek sharp horses in pursuit of the early season money.
Pocono races its first Sunday card at 7 p.m. tomorrow (March 24), with the $1.4M-winning Meladys Monet handicapped to the outside in a field of six in the $21,500 trotting feature. Meladys Monet is trained by a horseman who has some previous experience with winners of much racetrack cash – Herman Heitmann, the first trainer of Foiled Again.
(PHHA)