Explosive Matter filly Spring In Paris emerged as the only female with a two-for-two record in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting distaffs after a trio of $15,000 second-round divisions were contested on Tuesday (April 9) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Driver Andrew McCarthy had Spring In Paris in second-over position when pacesetter Fade Into You made a break early in the backstretch. Spring In Paris was caught briefly three wide as her cover faded and could not cross over, giving Town Hall Justice the lead. But Spring In Paris downshifted when she regained two-wide status, went on to the lead then held off the late inside bid of Royal Esteem by a neck in 1:57.4. Steve LeBlanc conditions the winner, now undefeated in three 2019 starts, for Leblanc Racing Inc., Glenn Dyke, and Douglas Johnson.
That victory completed a siring double for Explosive Matter, as his daughter Nicole Hanover won the first Weiss division by a nose in 1:58.4. The mare followed behind pacesetter Meadowbranch Vicki, then used the famed Pocono Pike to nip her foe late for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Bob Rougeaux III, and the Brocious Racing Stable Inc.
Sire dominance in the third Weiss cut went to Cantab Hall as his daughters finished one-two-three-four, topped by Lollipop Lindy, a three-year-old who reduced her mark two seconds to 1:57. George Napolitano Jr. went the uncovered route with Lollipop Lindy in the last half, and the pair rallied by hard-used pacesetter Run Lindy Run by a half-length for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera and her owner, Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester.
In the top mares overnight pace for $14,000, the Stonebridge Regal mare Bye Bye Michelle was used hard early and late, yet still defeated Ella Christina by a neck in 1:52.4. Andy Miller secured a pocket trip past a :26.4 opener and sat in the two-hole by the :56 half. Ella Christina made a huge uncovered backstretch move to sweep to the lead before the 1:24 three-quarters–but her cover did not keep up with her, allowing Miller to move out behind the sweeper, then take off after her in the stretch. Ella Christina held well, but Bye Bye Michelle proved the best at crunch time as she raised her career earnings to $371,225 for trainer Mike Watson and owner Clifford Grundy.
(PHHA)