Horses on the way up the class ladder were featured in $20,270 contests on Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, under conditions that hinted of a pleasant upcoming spring.
No Words (pictured above), a son of Tellitlikeitis, suffered interference when pacesetting favourite El Yerno made a break coming into the stretch in the event for pacing males, but he quickly righted and stormed home five-wide from seventh to be victorious in 1:52.3 for driver Patrick Ryder. The Michael Calderone trainee has now won three of his last four starts for lessee Exceedequine.com.
On the distaff side-wheeling side, the Stay Hungry sophomore filly Stay Classy came a long way uncovered, then held off the horse on her back, Cannery Row, by a neck while equalling her lifetime best of 1:55.2 for driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollock Racing LLC.
In the developing trotter section, Irish Coffee teamed with the meet’s leading driver, Matt Kakaley (a four-time winner during all three local cards this week), for an easy win in 1:56.4. Jennifer Bongiorno conditions the altered son of Father Patrick for her Jennifer Bongiorno Stable LLC.
Racing resumes at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Pocono, with the final preliminaries for the Game Of Claims Series for top-priced horses yielding this question: “Who is going to wind up with Dontpokethedragon after the race?” The $30,000 USD claiming tag may not daunt anyone, given that the pacer has won eight times this year, including twice easily in his preliminaries, and will be going for his 11th straight win ahead of March 23’s $35,000 USD series championship. In all, there will be five cuts of this GOC going for $17,500 USD, with good money ahead for anyone with a sharp horse who can win the game of claiming musical chairs ownership Saturday. Free Pocono programs are available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)