The chestnut gelding Beaujolais Breeze made a striking pari-mutuel debut, capturing his $28,571 division of the Bobby Weiss Series’s first preliminary for three-year-old trotting males on Monday, March 31, at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Favoured Te Quiero Lindy (Tyler Miller) took control by the :28.3 quarter, eased through a :58 half, and then accelerated with the wind to reach three-quarters in 1:26.3. Tyler Buter initially kept Beaujolais Breeze (Love You-Wind Stroll) inside but, when the outer tier failed to advance, sent his gelding first-over late on the backstretch. Beaujolais Breeze gained steadily, surging past the favourite in deep stretch to win by half a length, closing in :56.3 to stop the clock in 1:55.2. The promising sophomore is trained by Nifty Norman for owners Tom Vassiliou, Deo Volente Farms LLC, Thomas Pontone, and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.
The other two Weiss divisions were captured by geldings driven by George Napolitano Jr., neither of whom were betting favourites, yet both took new lifetime marks of 1:57.1. One shared Beaujolais Breeze’s trainer, while the other shared his sire.
Nifty Norman’s second winner, Pantofolaio (Italian for "couch potato"), a Bar Hopping-Mad Elf gelding, was anything but lazy as he ground his way to the lead late on the far turn and held off Blue Patrol (Ridge Warren) by a neck for owners Dean Lockhart, Wayne Carleton, and Jeffrey Runk. The second son of Love You to visit Pocono’s winner’s circle was Luvutothemoonanbak out of With Sprinkles, who gamely held his ground on the lead to edge Big Shot (Anthony Napolitano) by the narrowest of margins for trainer Blake MacIntosh and Clancy Farms.
In a $24,286 distaff pace, Sweet Lou-The Player Hanover mare Louisville GB extended her winning streak with a powerful late rally off cover, stopping the clock in 1:51.3—just a tick off her lifetime best at The Meadowlands. Driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Kenneth Jacobs, the red-hot mare has now won four straight, five of six in 2025, seven of eight since arriving in North America, and 10 of her last 13 overall, including her farewell races overseas.
Chapolier extended his perfect start to the Pocono meet with his sixth straight victory, though Tuesday’s triumph was his closest contest yet. The Chapter Seven-Holier Than Thou gelding, driven by Napolitano Jr., fended off a late charge from Wallet (Braxten Boyd) by a neck in 1:55.2 in a $22,857 trot. Typically racing on or near the lead, Chapolier was rated off the pace this time, as Napolitano Jr. adjusted tactics when spotting multiple early speed threats. The $354,437 earner, trained by Dean Eckley and co-owned with William Hartt, was retained by his connections after being claimed in four consecutive starts.
Napolitano Jr. recorded five wins on the card, while Buter tallied two, leaving them tied atop the driver standings with 44 victories apiece.
Pocono wraps up its racing week on Tuesday with a 1 p.m. card featuring a $17,500 USD Championship in the Game Of Claims Pacing Series. Bettors will also take note of a $5,367.21 double carryover added to the fifth-race Pick 5 pool.
(With files from Pocono/PHHA)