The second and final preliminary of the Winter Is Coming Pacing Series was held Monday, Nov. 10 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and the series name told the tale of the weather – temperatures barely above freezing and a strong wind, mostly against backstretch movers.
Two first-time series starters provided the two fastest wins in the $17,605 prelims. Quickest of all Monday was the Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah gelding Boston Rocks (pictured above), a career winner of $716,618 who was extended to turn back the late charge of Big Bang Bang by a head in 1:52.2, with twin panels of :27.4 coming home. Jim Pantaleano drove Boston Rocks to the victory for trainer Mike Deters and the ownership of Rick Berks of Paris, Kentucky and Peter Blood of Pompano, Florida.
Also new to the series, and a closer after the front part of the card had a big speed bias, was the Always B Miki-Burlesque gelding Building Boost, who barrelled home from sixth at the three-quarters to overhaul pacesetting Pompeo Hanover by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.1. Anthony Napolitano drove the 11-1 shot to victory for trainer Jake Guff and owners Rosie Huff of Margate, Florida and Beauty Bridle Racing Stable Inc. of South Amboy, New Jersey.
No horse or trainer had a win in both weeks of the series preliminaries, and only George Napolitano Jr. among the drivers paraded back to Victory Lane as a winner both weeks. Monday he did so with the Betting Line-Life Is A Beach gelding Boardwalk Bet, fourth though beaten only half a length in the first round; here the horse went to the lead at the half, withstood a big challenge from Petrol Queen and finally won by two lengths over that rival in 1:54 for trainer Eddie Sager (the only doubling conditioner on the day) and owners Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Gary Weidelman of Forked River, New Jersey.
Top purse of the day, $21,831, went to developing trotters, a race taken by the Walner-Cant Have My Moni sophomore gelding Dont Ask For More in 1:57.2 to make it three straight. But Dont Ask For More, co-owned by trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt as Åke Svanstedt Inc. in partnership with Nils Munkhaugen and Barry and Michael Carter, did have to have more asked of him as he set the pace, for Global Twist came out of the pocket and gained inch by inch in the lane, only to come up a nose shy.
The Napolitano brothers, George Jr. and Anthony, second and third, respectively, in victories at the meet, drove three winners; doubling in the sulky were meet leader Tyler Buter and Braxten Boyd.
The Winter Is Coming Trotting Series will conduct its second round on Tuesday’s 1 p.m. card.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)