Team Allard has now taken both $30,000 Bobby Weiss Series Championships conducted so far at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, adding another victory after Cardiff's yesterday with a recent acquisition: the trotter Town Hall Justice, who lowered her mark by three seconds with a 1:53.4 mile despite a track that was downgraded to “good” after mid-card rain.
The victorious Justice Hall mare trotted under pressure to a :27.2 quarter before yielding to Run Lindy Run, then came off the rail soon after her opponent tripped the timer to a :56.2 half. Simon Allard got his charge to the lead late on the backstretch, with the two favourites Fade Into You (two-time prelim winner) and Spring In Paris (three-time prelim winner) on her heels at and past the 1:24.2 third quarter.
Despite the presence of the heavyweights on her tail, Town Hall Justice proved a length better than Fade Into You, with Spring In Paris another one-and-a-half lengths back. Owned by Simon’s brother, trainer Rene Allard, Town Hall Justice had been one-for-33 lifetime before going to her current owner–for whom she is now two-for-two.
In this Weiss division’s $15,000 consolation, the Kadabra mare Northern Dream took a mark of 1:57.4 in an exciting finish that saw five horses within three-quarter lengths at the wire. Northern Dream, trained by Michael Rashkin for owner Timothy Betts, was sent three wide late on the backstretch by driver George Napolitano Jr., ducked two wide midway through the final turn and nosed pacesetting-favourite Critical Hanover in the last step.
Caught four wide while over three lengths from the lead at the head of the stretch, Eclipse Me N gunned through the lane to win by two lengths with a 1:51 mile in the $21,500 featured mares pace. The Allard brothers again were the team behind the talented Real Desire mare, who has earnings of $224,744 for Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Donald Mac Rae.
FINISHING LINES – The world’s fastest trotter, Homicide Hunter, will be out to qualify Wednesday, April 34 at Pocono. George Napolitano Jr. is set for sulky duty for trainer Chris Oakes, just as the pair teamed to win their Breeders Crown event at the mountain oval last year. Homicide Hunter will start from post six in qualifier six.
(with files from PHHA)