A pair of high-level claiming handicap events going for $14,000 were the twin features at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Monday evening.
First to go forward was a group of pacing mares, with the Dragon Again mare Sea Rose calmly sitting a pocket trip while action exploded all around her (:26.3, :54.3, 1:23.4), then rallying up the Pocono Pike to post a head decision in 1:53.2. Gracies Parade came from far back in the last quarter to just miss in the photo, with Mcfoolery coming through deep in the Pike to be just another head back in third.
Sea Rose boosted her career earnings over $100,000 victory for driver Simon Allard, trainer Rene Allard, and Simpson Racing LLC.
The other feature was a mixed-sex trotting contest, but the constant was Team Allard, with Simon and Rene combining with the Jailhouse Jesse mare Jessica Lar Bar as she rallied from second-over to win by 1-1/2 lengths and tie her lifetime mark of 1:55.3 while catching pacesetting What A Peach.
The Ohio invader, also owned by Simon, came her own last half in :56.4 to run her local record to two wins and two seconds in four trips to the gate.
The final $30,000 Championship in the Bobby Weiss Series, for trotting males, will be the headliner as the five-card week draws to a close Tuesday. Ooh Rah and Hilarious Hero, each of whom took three wins in the four Weiss preliminary legs, drew right alongside each other, with Ooh Rah in post three and Hilarious Hero in slot four in the tenth race feature.
(PHHA/Pocono)