Arcadia Bluffs passed six horses in the final quarter-mile to get up in time and win the final of the $35,000 Wyoming Valley Trot Late Closer series for three-year-old colts and geldings on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
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Leaving from the outside post in a field of nine trotters and let go at 8-1, Arcadia Bluffs, a three-year-old gelding from the barn of Ed Lohmeyer, sat eighth around the first turn. At the half-mile mark, he had only improved to seventh while Broadway Rainbow, who was trying to sweep the series as part of a 1-9 favoured entry, held the lead.
Driver Jim Morrill Jr. saved ground with Arcadia Bluffs until the 5/8-mile mark, when they headed to the outside third-over. At the ¾-mile mark, the gelding still sat seventh while Broadway Rainbow and America battled for the lead. In the stretch, Morrill managed to find a hole between America first-over and Crystal Sizzler on the outside as the leaders tired, and Arcadia Bluffs outfinished Crystal Sizzler by a nose for the win in 1:57. America settled for third.
The win was the third in six starts this year for Arcadia Bluffs, who was sired by Andover Hall and is owned by Patricia Hogan of Cream Ridge, New Jersey. The $17,500 he earned for the win more than doubled his previous career earnings.
(Pocono Downs)