Driver Jason Bartlett guided the two male winners of the $12,000 pacing tri-features at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono during the Sunday (March 28) card, with both Nome Hanover and Gonnahaveonemore both stopping the timer in 1:54.3 over a “sloppy” oval.
Bartlett used pace-controlling moves during the second quarter in winning both races by wide margins. The Mach Three gelding Gonnahaveonemore established a lifetime mark in winning by six-and-a-quarter lengths for owner-trainer Pasquale Picca. The Well Said gelding Nome Hanover was clear by two-and-a-half lengths on the money for trainer Mark Ford and owners George and Rose Bonomo.
In the distaff division, the Quality Western mare Peggy J won her second-straight start, also hustling to the lead in front of the stands for driver Simon Allard and winning by one-and-a-half lengths in 1:58 for trainer Jeff Sorenson and owner Paula Sarcone.
It was a big evening for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Todd Buter, and the partnership of Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs as their veteran trotters Rich And Miserable and Two AM both won $10,000 contests and pushed the two horses’ collective earnings over the $1,000,000 mark lifetime. The Explosive Matter gelding Rich And Miserable (now with $489,036) won in 1:56.1, while Muscle Massive gelding Two AM ($518,034) was home first in 1:57.
Trotters will be in the spotlight on the Monday afternoon (March 29) card at The Downs, with a very competitive group set to go behind the gate in the $30,000 Game Of Claims Trotting Series Championship. First post Monday is 12:30 p.m. (EDT). Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.
(PHHA/Pocono)