After having recorded just two victories over a period of 777 days, the Credit Winner gelding Quiksilvr Bluechip has now won two races in the last seven days after fashioning a career-best 1:53.1 while winning the $21,918 featured claiming handicap trot at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 27.
The career winner of $543,210 stayed third inside as there was a fierce battle on the front end through splits of :26.3, :55 and 1:23.3. Quiksilvr Bluechip came off the rail on the far turn and chased down the pacesetting Wallet by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Carmen Iannacone.
Quiksilvr Bluechip was driven by Tyler Buter, who in all won six times during the Tuesday card, including twice for both Oakes and Ron Burke, who leads the local training colony with Oakes just behind him. Buter, who already has a seasonal lead of some 30 wins and is threatening to break up the 15-year duopoly that George Napolitano Jr. and Matt Kakaley have held on the Pocono dash crown. For the month of May at Pocono, Buter has notched 50 victories – more than three a day on average.
Doing almost as well as Buter on the Tuesday program were trainers with their eyes on the claiming box. A total of five claiming races were programmed, and four of the five winners of those races, including Quiksilvr Blue Chip, will be changing barns for their next race. Ten horses were claimed for $236,301 on the card.
The next card at Pocono is the aforementioned Saturday, May 31 program at 1 p.m., which will feature races for developing horses of both gaits and a fast-class pace.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)