Grain Of Truth capitalized on a perfect trip for trainer/driver Ray Schnittker en route to taking home the top prize in Tuesday’s $28,000 Open-1 Handicap
Trot at Pocono Downs.
Schnittker sat just off the pace for three-quarters of the race while Vivid Photo took the field through fractions of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:26.2. The leader hung tough in the lane, but he was nosed out by Grain Of Truth who stormed home in :27.4 for the 1:54.2 triumph. Vivid Photo, who was made the 1-5 favourite in the trotting affair, was a nose in arrears while A Gentleman was two lengths back in third.
Grain Of Truth, who was sent off at 40-1, came within one-fifth of a second from equaling his lifetime mark. The nine-year-old Self Possessed gelding, who is owned by Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo of Tappan, NY, won for the first time this season and for the 49th time in his career. The trotter has stashed away more than $783,000 to date.
(With files from Pocono Downs)