Bestfriend Volo and Moni Book have stamped themselves as the horses to beat in the Bobby Weiss Series for three-year-old trotting colts, winning their second straight preliminary Sunday evening (April 16) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania while both taking new marks of 1:55.
The Walner gelding Bestfriend Volo took to the track first, with driver Tyler Buter tucking third then unleashing him down the backstretch to get the lead from pacesetter G Load near the three-quarters. That foe remained game to the line, but Bestfriend Volo had a 2-1/4-length lead at the finish to remain undefeated in two seasonal starts for trainer Nifty Norman and the ownership of Pinske Stables, Patricia Stable and Curly Tall Curly Small.
The International Moni gelding Moni Book is unbeaten in three lifetime trips to the gate, all this year, after getting parked most of the first half to the lead yet still be able to hold off a strong Battin A Thousand by three-quarters of a length. Mark MacDonald drove the winner for trainer Justin Wiest and the ownership of David Wiest Stables, Pamela Kimmel and James Rappold.
Top pacing event on the card was a $16,500 contest for the highest-priced claimers on the grounds, a race where Sombodyitreasure recorded his second straight win, here controlling the pace while stopping the timer at 1:51.4 under the guidance of Simon Allard. Trainer Bryson Dunning and Mark Labbree claimed Sombodyitreasure on March 25 and earned $16,500 (minus expenses) before losing him to a claim out of this race.
Weiss Series action shifts to the three-year-old pacing fillies for the Monday 1 p.m. (EDT) card; along with that group’s second prelim, there will be the final preliminary leg for horses with a Monday base tag of $15,000, battling to earn a spot in their $17,500 championship event a week from Monday.
(PHHA / Pocono)