Tuesday's fifth race at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono was marred by an accident involving multiple horses.
As the horses approached the three-quarter mark of the mile, Queen Of Denial (Andrew McCarthy) took a misstep and fell to the track. The resulting chain reaction, in this order, saw Girllookatthatbody (Eric Carlson) hook a wheel trying to duck outside around the trouble, Life Is A Beach (Anthony Napolitano) going into the pileup, and Shes Heavenly (Pat Lachance) avoiding the brunt of mishap trying to avert wide, but like the other three she was a DNF.
Reports from Pocono indicate that all the horses appear to have come out of the accident without serious injury.
"Nothing appears to be serious at this time, and we are very thankful. Our thoughts are with the drivers, and wish them all a speedy recovery," said Pocono spokesperson Jennifer Starr.
Driver Anthony Napolitano is undergoing tests for the extent of his injuries and is extremely sore. Eric Carlson is also on his way to the hospital for tests on his ankle, which is sore and tender. Andrew McCarthy shaken up, and is on his way home to rest. These three booked off the remainder of their Tuesday night drives. Pat LaChance is a bit shaken but fine.
Trot Insider will provide updates on the condition of those involved as it becomes available.
In other racing action, Jonsie Jones continued holding the hot hand as the flashy grey mare came north on the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Harrah’s Philadelphia and made her local return a winning one by taking Tuesday’s $15,500 distaff feature in 1:50.2 for a new lifetime mark at age nine.
Jonsie Jones had risen from the bottom condition at Philly with three wins and three more board finishes until in her last start drawing post eight in a field that included Venus Delight, last year’s national older mare champion. But she quickly returned to her solid ways in this gathering, going wire-to-wire from post four with fractions of :26.3, :55.1, and 1:22.3 in defeating second choice Aniston Seelster (8-5 to the winner’s 9-10) by 1-1/4 lengths.
The daughter of Tulane is trained by Amber Buter, her second win of the night, for owners LRL Racing LLC. Jonsie Jones brought driver George Napolitano Jr. back to Victory Lane for the fourth of six wins of the night.
(with files from PHHA/Pocono)