The Sunday afternoon (March 5) action at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured seven $12,500 divisions of the first preliminary of the Game Of Claims series for $15,000 base-price pacers. And like yesterday, it was not a good day for the series favourites – a single chalk was victorious Saturday, which was a total of one more than the most-fancied series campaigners who competed Sunday.
The fastest of the Sunday series winners was Bamski, a Bettors Delight gelding who perked right up after limited success campaigning at Yonkers. Here he went first-over yet was unfazed by the rough journey, posting a 1:53 clocking while 6-3/4 lengths ahead at the wire for driver Anthony Napolitano, top pilot on the day with four victories. Unfortunately, owner-trainer James Scarpias saw his horse become one of three Game Of Claims winners to be claimed Sunday – though he could come back to reclaim him in the future preliminaries. In all, 15 horses changed hands Sunday for a total of $228,750, making the weekend figures at Pocono 34 claims for a total of $703,750.
Two other winners who will have to get accustomed to new surroundings this coming week after being claimed are P L Leeroy (driver Simon Allard, 1:54.1) and DLs Big Elvis (Tyler Buter, 1:53.4). Returning to a familiar stall after visiting Victory Lane will be Territory (Braxten Boyd, 1:54.1), Vasari N (Jim Pantaleano, 1:55), Topville Olympian (Marcus Miller, 1:54.2) and Blow A Cloud N (George Napolitano Jr., 1:53.4).
In the $17,000 overnight feature for pacing distaffs, the Tellitilikeitis mare Pure Silky not only took a new mark of 1:51.2, but also posted the fastest clocking of the season at Pocono. Anthony Napolitano sent the winner of four straight right to the lead from post eight, circling to the top around Frazzle Hanover to a :27.2 opener, then posting midsplits of :56.1 and 1:24.1. Pure Silky opened a bit of space over the two-holer around the far turn, but 'Frazzle' found better strides in the Pocono Pike, and both fillies did themselves proud, with Pure Silky getting the nose decision for trainer Lance Hudson and owner William Hartt.
Pocono presents its first Monday card of the year at 1 p.m. (EST), with four divisions of the first preliminary of the Game Of Claims Series for $7,500 base-priced horses. There will also be a triple carryover of $3,171 for the Pick-5 wager in races eight through 12.
(PHHA / Pocono)