An Åke Svanstedt-trained pacer, the Rock N Roll Heaven mare Kimberlee, sat off of very hot fractions, then swept to victory late in the $17,500 distaff featured pace during the Tuesday, Oct. 29 card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Shes Pukka N used the pylon post to gain the early advantage, keeping favourite Eclipse Me N parked well past the :26 quarter to three-eighths. At that point Medusa, who had also left and was parked with cover, went and gained command before the :54.1 half.
Tell Me A Joke came first over with Kimberlee towed second over. The former challenged Medusa for the lead through and past a 1:22 three-quarters. All of the horses who had been involved with the quick pace understandably tired a bit, leaving Kimberlee with a clear path to pace to a 1:50.3 victory, a neck ahead of Tell Me A Joke. Marcus Miller, whose four driving wins were the most on the card, was in the sulky behind the 10-time winner for Knutsson Trotting Inc.
Though she came up shy in this, her first start in 26 days, Eclipse Me N earned a place in the winner's circle after Kimberlee, as the Real Desire mare was honoured as Pocono’s Mare of the Year. Eclipse Me N performed quite honourably against national-class mares in the Great Northeast Open Series, missing only a half-length in the Championship, and in top-level overnight events she was a high-percentage winner. She alose equaled the world record for older mares of 1:48.2 on a 5/8-mile track and beat Breeders Crown champion Caviart Ally earlier this year. The Allard brothers, driver Simon and trainer Rene, were among others on hand to accept the award for the connections of the winner of $314,269, who is owned by Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Donald MacRae.
Only five cards remain in the 2019 racing season at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, as with the change to November the track will race only on Saturday and Tuesday until closing night of Saturday, Nov. 16.
(PHHA/Pocono)