Favourites won all three $9,000 divisions of the first preliminary round of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for $10,000 base-priced horses on Monday afternoon (April 3) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

The fastest of the successful trio was Globaldomination N, who enjoyed a drop in class and hung up a wire-to-wire victory in 1:53 for driver Jim Pantaleano. Unfortunately for his connections, he was claimed out of his race, and was another engine winner, Apple Valley Art, a Meadowlands invader who won in 1:54 for driver George Napolitano Jr.

Hudsen A made it three-for-three for the favourites in this Game Of Claims first prelim with a 1:55.1 victory from the pocket, but he got to “return home” with trainer/driver Pat Lachance and owner Jeffrey Dauplaise. 

In all, six horses were claimed in the first round, with many more likely to join their ranks before the $17,500 series championship on Monday, April 24.

The first Tuesday afternoon card of the season at Pocono Downs will take place at 1 p.m., with trotters getting their shot at Game Of Claims action with five $20,000 first-round preliminaries for horses entered for a base tag of $25,000.

(PHHA/Pocono)