Tequila Monday was an in-charge repeat winner in the Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) for mare pacers Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, home in 1:52.1 over a “sloppy” track with the mercury hovering around 40.
Kissininthesand, second after going first-over against Tequila Monday in the GNOS opener last Saturday, scratched sick, taking a little of the drama out of the race. But the great 2018 filly champion, even with expected improvement in her second seasonal start, would have had it tough against the razor-sharp winning daughter of American Ideal. The rest of her opposition sure did.
Apple Bottom Jeans got her customary flying start even from the outside post seven, with Tequila Monday and Bettor Joy N looped and pressing onward on the first turn. Tequila Monday made the lead nearing the :27 quarter. Bettor Joy N soon went to get the lead at the three-eighths, backing off the half to :56.1 and the three-quarters in 1:25.
However, Bettor Joy N hadn’t raced since the Blue Chip Final on April 20 after her Ohio difficulty, and in the :27.1 sprint home Tequila Monday roared through the Pocono Pike, going by easily for a one-and-a-quarter length victory. Bettor Joy N held admirably for second, with Apple Bottom Jeans clearing late and coming on for third.
Tequila Monday has now won all six of her starts tjis season, earning $91,750 this year and $833,462 lifetime, during which she has won 23 of 50 starts. Tyler Buter had the sulky assignment for trainer Hunter Oakes and the ownership of Northfolk Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.
In the companion GNOS contest for open trotters, Guardian Angel AS was sharp in his second outing of the year, winning easily in 1:53.1, with Homicide Hunter never a major factor in his debut for both the year and for the Burke Brigade.
Guardian Angel AS let JL Cruze speed away to take the early lead, then moved outside to the :27.3 quarter and took command, hanging up middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.1, with La Grange A gaining first over. The victorious son of Archangel, though, had plenty left in the tank, sprinting home in :28 to be three-and-three-quarter lengths clear for driver Tim Tetrick. La Grange A and Weslynn Dancer finished next in line while Homicide Hunter, unraced since winning the Breeders Crown here last October 27, had a wave of trotters leave inside of him from the outside post eight, settled in fourth, and then stayed in rather than go out for a second move after the long layoff. He was shuffled behind a tired horse in the last quarter, finishing sixth.
Guardian Angel AS raised his lifetime bankroll to $544,780 with his 17th win in 42 lifetime trips to the gate. A winner in a Breeders Crown elim here last year (he was fourth in the final), the winner is trained by Anette Lorentzon for ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson.
Buter and Tetrick, GNOS winners, were the overall leading drivers of the night: Buter with four wins, Tetrick with three complementing his quartet at Philly earlier in the day.
(with files from PHHA)