After five $7,500 divisions of the third and final preliminary leg of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for $7,500 base-tag pacers on Monday afternoon (March 20) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, there was only one horse who won twice in the prelims, Believeinthespirit.
The Art Major gelding took his first series start, got too far behind from an outside post last week, but was able to pace up raw here and take a length decision over Soho Wallstreet A in 1:55.1 under Anthony Napolitano’s handling. Trainer Crit Walsh co-owns the veteran Believeinthespirit with Lily Cimino, and they escaped the afternoon bringing their double visitor to Victory Lane back to the barn with them.
Walsh, Napolitano and Cimino had another series winner, this one in partnership with Just Enough LLC, in Pack Your Bags, whom they claimed last week and who promptly won for them in 1:55.3. Pack Your Bags also was not claimed – in fact, although five horses were claimed Monday, none of them were winners on the day.
Simon Allard drove two first-time starters at this series level to victory, with neither likely to earn a starting spot next Monday’s (March 27) $15,000 final since participation in the series is rewarded each start. This seems especially unfortunate for Dont Get Shocked, who recently won upon joining the Jody Dunning barn at Rosecroft, and then was tons the best against his series opposition. To put his 1:52.4 time (a new mark) in perspective, the fastest mile Saturday (March 18) for $25,000-based horses was 1:52.2, and for $15,000-based horses Sunday was 1:53.4.
Allard’s other winner was Three Ways N, who dropped from a higher series level and posted a 1:55.1 success. The other Monday cut was won by Bettors Western (driver George Napolitano Jr.), who added a 1:55 victory to previous thirds in the series, and seems a good proposition to qualify for the championship.
The Game Of Claims Championships will be the highlight of the upcoming three-day racing week at Pocono during 1 p.m. cards on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Saturday (March 25) card will feature a $40,000 final for the success stories for the base-$25,000 tag in their preliminaries; also on the Saturday card is a $25,000 pace for the fast-class set. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)