The Tuesday afternoon (April 11) card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured trotters in the spotlight, in both four $20,000 divisions of the first preliminary of the Weiss Series for sophomore fillies, and in six $20,000 divisions of the second preliminary of the Game Of Claims Series for horses carrying a base claiming tag this week of $27,500.
The quickest mile turned in during the Weiss action was 1:55.3 by the Walner miss A Good Chardonnay, setting the pace and holding off potential pocket rocket Eee Z Wow by 1-1/4 lengths while breaking her maiden for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller, whose Andy Miller Stable Inc. shares ownership with Michael Anderson and Jean Goehlen.
The Bar Hopping filly Bella Macchiato lived up to 1-10 backing, making two moves in controlling the pace and winning in 1:56.4 by three-quarters of a length for driver Josert Fonseca and trainer Nancy Takter, who co-owns with Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter and Goran Anderberg.
Drivers Tyler Buter and Jim Pantaleano had a victory in both the Weiss and the Game Of Claims. Buter’s Weiss win was with the Father Patrick filly Over Board, whose strong rally carried her to a 1:56.3 maiden victory for trainer Carter Pinske and the team of Pinske Stables and Lizanne Waples. Pantaleano brought home the Walner filly Quite Fast, whose three-quarter-length win in 1:57.2 came in her introduction to trainer Pete Kaiser; she is owned by Bax Stable, Glengate Farms and Brilo Farms.
With his victory in a career-best 1:53.3 during Game Of Claims action, Manofmanymuscles (one of four Tuesday wins for Pantaleano to lead all drivers) became the fastest series winner of the day, the only double winner in his Game Of Claims division, and also the only series winner of the day to be claimed.
Tyler Buter’s Game Of Claims victory came in the second-fastest mile in the series competition, a 1:54.2 score behind Town Victor which equalled his mark. Other Game Of Claims winners were Nasey (1:54.4, driver Braxten Boyd), Diehard Seelster (1:55.2 to equal his mark, Marcus Miller), Simon Got Lucky (a lifetime best 1:55.3, Simon Allard) and Cant Say No (1:56, George Napolitano Jr.).
Racing returns to Pocono on Saturday (April 15) at 1 p.m.; the second round of the Weiss Series for three-year-old pacing colts would find any repeat winner really enhancing his chances of making the $50,000 championship on April 29.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)