The card of harness racing on Tuesday, May 5 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured the preliminary legs of the Game Of Claims Trotting Series and the first pari-mutuel North American start for former UFC champion Charles Oliveira.
The racing features were four $20,270 divisions of the first preliminary round of the Game Of Claims (GOC) for horses base-tagged at $27,027. The fastest winner was the heavy favourite Lmc Wagon Wheel ($2.20), winning in 1:54.4 with identical halves for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Eric Ell. One of the hazards of the GOC series, however, is the possibility of being claimed, and Lmc Wagon Wheel will be going for new connections in his next start. Abruzzo (Jim Pantaleano) was second, followed by Dominion Day (Tyler Buter).
In the first division, there were two horses claimed – the two who finished in a dead heat for first in 1:56.4. Favoured Pisces Rising (Tyler Buter, $2.60) and Roger Rabbit (Ridge Warren, $7.40) were inseparable on the line, and both will head to new barns. The former won for trainer Ron Burke, and the latter was sent out by Mark Ford. Enhance Yourcalm N (Braxten Boyd) completed the ticket.
The other GOC divisions were won by rank outsiders, both of whom will go back to familiar surroundings. Kountry Express (Simon Allard) made a last-to-first backstretch move to win in 1:56.3 and pay $50.20 to win for trainer Jill Roland in the final split ahead of Erin (James Kennedy) and Water Torpedo (Anthony Napolitano). Songs In The Wind, the longest shot in his race, benefitted from a cagey drive by Tyler Buter – tucking in, backing out to follow cover, and then rallying to a 1:55.3 victory while lighting up the tote board to the tune of $60 (giving the meet’s leading driver his third $50+ winner of the season to lead the category). Mike Seddon trains the winner, who was ahead of Eugenio Rl It (Matt Kakaley) and Kameran Hanover (Jim Pantaleano). In all, five GOC trotters were exchanged for a gross of $141,892.
Oliveira, a star of the UFC lightweight division, is a Standardbred fan and driver in his native Brazil, where he has racked up 19 wins from 32 starts. On Tuesday, he made his pari-mutuel United States sulky debut in the 13th race and acquitted himself honourably by missing by just a nose with the Dean Eckley-trained Kashed Up A to favoured Ill Play It Alone. He started alongside Josias Santos, his longtime friend and corner man who introduced Oliveira to the game and who was also in his first pari-mutuel drive after winning a qualifier last week.
On paper, the race looked front-end heavy, which is likely why the renowned leaver Ronaldo N (Anthony Napolitano) was taken back off the gate and why Santos was aiming for a tuck early with Neyreit, another horse who almost always fires away. Instead, Hes Special (Mark Herschberger), who had succeeded on the front end last time, blasted out to command, with Oliveira guiding Kashed Up A into the two-hole as the pacesetter put up a :27.4 opener then got a breather against the wind to a :57.4 half.
Ill Play It Alone (James Kennedy), coming off a strong closing win, started uncovered in front of the stands and advanced. As the field started down the backstretch, Oliveira vacated the two-hole with Kashed Up N to battle the pacesetter through a 1:25.2 three-quarters, with the chalk following the live cover then tipping three-high with an eighth of a mile to go. The pacesetter stayed in the battle until mid-stretch, at which point it was down to Kashed Up A and Oliveira or Ill Play It Alone and Kennedy. The two horses and drivers gave their all, and then the photo finish declared a victory by the smallest margin for Ill Play It Alone in the 1:54.2 mile. Hes Special was third.
The 100+ fans in attendance at Pocono to watch Oliveira's debut, all with hopes of meeting the famed fighter, were not disappointed. Once he had changed out of his driving colours, the champ graciously posed for photos and selfies on the apron while his entourage waited patiently. Throughout the preparations for his race, Oliveira stopped whenever he was asked to pose with fans, horse people and his fellow drivers, who were all enjoying having Do Bronx around the race paddock for the afternoon.
To prepare for the race, Oliveira arrived about two hours before post time and had to obtain his racing license from the state commission. Then he was ready to meet his horse and get down to the business of racing. Following his warm-up, he had help from Jason Bartlett in adjusting the race bike stirrups, which was followed by a review of the program page with Pocono stalwart reinsman George Napolitano Jr. Oliveira's friend Roger Melo was on hand to provide translation from Portuguese. Simon Allard was instrumental in getting the fighter to Pocono for his big debut.
Oliveira was thrilled by the competition and his participation, and Santos also showed his gameness – he now owns Neyreit, and the pair is right back in to go Friday at Harrah's Philadelphia. Oliveira will be at Philly on Sunday for more competition; that card will be drawn on Wednesday. He is also set for a rematch with Tim Tetrick, whom he beat in an exhibition race in 2021, in a team challenge on Friday at Yonkers.
Pocono’s next two cards, on Saturday and Monday at 1 p.m., will both feature Pennsylvania All-Stars action for three-year-old pacers. Another C Note, undefeated in four starts this year and a winner in the first Pennsylvania Sire Stakes leg at The Meadows, tops the colt-and-gelding ranks, while Miss Jum Jabber, who defeated 2025 divisional champion Loua Dipa last week at Philly, heads the contending fillies.
(PHHA/Pocono; photo of Lmc Wagon Wheel winning on May 5)