Claimed by trainer Rene Allard in his last start, The Onlyest One claimed victory in the $18,000 pacing feature on Saturday, Nov. 10 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The Onlyest One, a Bettors Delight gelding, overcame a first-over journey to post a 1:52.3 victory. Now a 13-time winner in 2018 with earnings of $101,450 this year and $347,240 lifetime, The Onlyest One withstood Roll Away Joe by a length for driver Simon Allard while making a successful debut for Allard Racing Inc.
Music Is Art may not have been the straightest pacer in the stretch drive of the $17,500 co-featured pace, but he was the fastest under the guidance of Anthony Napolitano to reach the wire first in 1:51.2. The son of Art Major was positioned second over, swung wide entering the stretch and kept going wider the closer he got to the line. He finished about four wide at the wire with a half-length lead over pacesetting Im A Big Deal.
Music Is Art, trained by Mark Ford for owner Rick Berks, pushed his earnings to $91,863 this season and $196,790 lifetime.
Ford, the Allard brothers, and George Napolitano Jr. each had a triple Saturday.
Two horses were honoured Saturday in the Hanover Shoe Farms winners circle at Pocono for seasonal accomplishments at the mountain oval. First to be spotlighted was another success story for the brothers Allard: Mare of the Year Eclipse Me N. She won half of her twelve starts this season at Pocono at the highest level of the conditioned ranks.
For the year overall Eclipse Me N, who raced in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers in the winter, has nine wins and $93,210. She took her mark of 1:50.1 on May 15 at Pocono for Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Don Mac Lean, who imported her from New Zealand in May 2017.
While the American Ideal gelding Ideal Kiss raced honourably at Pocono from May to November, his selection as Claimer of the Year was hugely based on his stint under the tutelage of Hunter Oakes, after Northfork Racing Stable claimed him for $30,000 on Aug. 11.
For Northfork, Oakes and driver George Napolitano Jr., Ideal Kiss hit the board in seven of nine starts–winning five–and amassed earnings of $59,020 and a lifetime mark of 1:49.3 earned on Sept. 1. Ideal Kiss has raced this year to a total of 10 wins and $118,030 in earnings; his lifetime accumulation is $202,730.
Sunday, Nov. 11 at Pocono Pacer of the Year Dorsoduro Hanover will be feted; on 2018 closing night next Saturday, Trotter of the Year Homicide Hunter will be honoured.
(with files from PHHA)