Ooh Bad Shark dominated on the front end to complete a sweep of the Bobby Weiss Series for three and four-year-old fillies and mares on the pace, winning Wednesday night’s final at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
. The race carried a purse of $30,000.
Leaving from post position No. 5 in a field of eight as a 5-2 second betting choice, Ooh Bad Shark was hustled to the front by driver George Napolitano Jr. to take the lead right at the quarter pole in :26.4.
Napolitano was able to rate the speed favourably when no outside pressure materialized, hitting the half in :56.3 and three quarters in 1:24.1.
In the stretch, the mare paced away from Cruzin Angel, who trailed her from the pocket for most of the race. The winning margin was three and a quarter lengths and the time of 1:52.3 was a new career mark for her. Cruzin Angel finished second while Southwind Trini picked up the show. The 1-2 favourite, Gottaseeaboutagirl, faltered on her first over trip and finished at the back of the pack.
Ooh Bad Shark, who had won the two preliminary legs of the Weiss Series, now has four victories in five tries this year. The mare, owned by trainer William Wiggins and Donna Fedorak and sired by Cams Card Shark, now has eight lifetime victories in just 13 starts with career earnings of $77,165.
The Bobby Weiss series, named in honour of the longtime Pocono groundskeeper who retired after the 2011 season, will conclude on Friday night at Pocono with the three and four-year-old trotting division final.
(Pocono Downs)