Spring In Paris, a sophomore daughter of Explosive Matter, went three-for-three in her Bobby Weiss Series preliminary action at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, taking one of Tuesday’s $15,000 prelim divisions in a lifetime best of 1:55.3.
Driver Andrew McCarthy moved her to race uncovered on the second turn, then grabbed the cover of pocket-pulling Critical Hanover. Critical Hanover cleared control passing three-quarters, but Spring In Paris ground to the lead around the turn and through the lane to win by a half length. Steve LeBlanc conditions the consistent miss, now undefeated her four seasonal starts, for LeBlanc Racing Inc., Glenn Dyke, and Douglas Johnson.
The only other horse in this division to notch two Weiss prelim wins was the Cantab Hall filly Fade Into You, who moved to the lead early and went on to a five-length victory in a personal best of 1:56. Fade Into You competes for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Phil Collura.
Town Hall Justice broke a 19-race losing streak when moving to the Rene Allard barn and notched enough points to qualify for the Weiss Final. Driver Simon Allard made two moves with the Justice Hall mare and lowered her mark to 1:56.4 while defeating Cayenne Victory by two lengths. Rene Allard also owns the winner.
The Weiss Series $30,000 Championship for this division, in addition to a $15,000 consolation if it fills, will be conducted on Tuesday, April 23. The unofficial top pointwinners in the prelims are: 1. Spring In Paris, 2. Fade Into You, 3. Lollipop Lindy, 4. Nicole Hanover, 5. Royal Esteem, 6. (tie) Moshannon Magic and Town Hall Justice, 8. Meadowbranch Vicki, 9. Run Lindy Run; Dawn Of Glory and Whip N Neigh Neigh are next in the points, in that order. They would be the also-eligible (AE)1 and AE 2 “on the bubble” for the Championship, and likely among the top contenders in the consolation.
Tequila Monday started her five-year-old campaign with over $740,000 in career earnings, and based on her three starts this year, all victories, she may be as good as she ever has been, which could be bad news for the best of the pacing mare set. The American Ideal quarter-moved going by a :27.1 opener in the $21,500 featured for fast-class distaffs. Making the lead, she then went on to post fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1 and stopped the timer in 1:50.2, one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Eclipse Me N following from the pocket. Matt Kakaley got the sulky assignment from trainer Hunter Oakes for the Northfolk Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.
(with files from PHHA)