Developing horses in the ‘non-winners of seven races’ class gathered for a pair of $18,000 features on Sunday night (October 16) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and pacer Nocturnal Bluechip and trotter Checkmate Time emerged victorious.
The rains came, and the track had just been re-rated to ‘sloppy,’ when the pacers came to the track, but the wet and muck had little effect on Nocturnal Bluechip, who won in 1:52. Driver Vinnie Ginsburg made every pole a winning one with the son of Bettors Delight, as the duo triumphed by one and a half lengths over Bering Sea Hanover for trainer Scott Di Domenico and the NLG Racing Stable. Nocturnal Bluechip raised his earnings to $248,675 with the victory.
The recent addition of lasix seems to have been a key in a recent surge of upward form for the sophomore Muscle Hill filly Checkmate Time, as the filly is now three-for-four in recent starts after having triumphed at Pocono in 1:56. Driver Donald Dupont patiently guided to the filly to the lead near the three-eighths pole, and the winner of $71,009 was not catchable from there. She finished two and a half lengths to the good of Ridgeway Springs for trainer Marie Dupont and owner/breeder Roy Dobbins.
Earlier during the card, driver Earl Carlson and trainer Peter Foley combined for their second $100+ winner of the meet when Decision Day got home first and returned $124.40 to win. The victory complemented the horsemen’s collaboration on $118.40 bomber Cinnabar Hall on May 20. Carlson is the only driver at the meet with two $100 winners (on the trainer side, Foley tied Bob Bongiorno for that distinction). Decision Day got his maiden victory via a nose decision over Dreams Are True, who was driven by Eric Goodell and completed the ‘Detroit Eric’ exacta of $399.40.
(PHHA / Pocono)