Yagonnakissmeornot, benefiting from her versatility and the hot team of driver Simon Allard and trainer/brother Rene, moved off second-over cover to catch pacesetting Ooh Bad Shark and record a half-length victory in a $30,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Coming off a win in the Chip Noble Memorial Pace at Miami Valley and a second in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Final at Yonkers before that, Yagonnakissmeornot left from post seven in the eight-horse field and tucked fifth early as Ooh Bad Shark assumed the lead after the :26.4 quarter and posted middle splits of :55.2 and 1:23. Simon Allard had the daughter of The Panderosa in high gear midway on the final turn, and by mid-stretch it was apparent that the winner would catch the front-stepper, and she did in 1:50.3, with Yagonnakissmeornot's own last half :54.2 over an oval not known to be favourable to closers.
Yagonnakissmeornot, now a career winner of $982,032, paid $4.20 in winning for Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Kapildeo Singh. Second choice Anndrovette, assigned the outside post eight, had traffic trouble and finished off the board.
This Mares Open was well-placed 11 days before the $150,000 Betsy Ross Pace on Sunday, May 24 at the other track serviced by the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, Harrah’s Philadelphia, and this coming Saturday’s card at Pocono has a pair of $30,000 Opens, for Free-For-All trotters and pacers, from which may emerge contenders for the May 24 Philly card’s $150,000 Maxie Lee Trot and $150,000 Jerry Taylor Pace.
Also this weekend at Pocono is Pennsylvania Sire Stakes/Stallion Series action for three-year-old pacing colts. In a reversal of the normal sequencing, the Sire Stakes horses will go on Saturday and the Stallion Series sections on Sunday.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)