The claiming box was the hot spot on Tuesday, June 10 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with the first three finishers in the afternoon's $21,918 claiming handicap trotting feature changing barns, and the division reserved for claimers of the two $20,548 co-feature trots having three horses also going to “new” homes, including the first two finishers.
Quiksilvr Bluechip (pictured above) was spotted third in a field of five as Macmorris Hanover went to the lead and Chamba followed along in the pocket through fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.4, with Quiksilvr Bluechip starting his uncovered move before the last-named station. Quiksilvr Bluechip sailed right by in the stretch for his fourth straight victory, this one tying his lifetime mark of 1:53.1, with Chamba following him in the lane to get second around Macmorris Hanover.
Tyler Buter has been aboard for all four wins in Quiksilvr Bluechip's current streak, which began with a conditioned victory. Buter won four earlier races on Tuesday's 12-race card to widen his lead at the top of the Pocono standings.
The top three finishers were claimed, with the winning son of Credit Winner going to Rocco Stebbins.
The $20,548 claiming co-feature just about mirrored the feature except that the 1-2-5 finishers were claimed – and believe it or not, those horses are even more used to seeing a different stall or field from week to week.
The American Eagle, a son of Trixton who used the Pocono Pike for a 1:55.1 victory for driver Simon Allard and trainer/owner Josue Garcia, was claimed for the sixth straight time, and second-place Hunting As, the pacesetting favourite, was haltered for the seventh race in a row. Even Rose Run Elegant, who tired and finished fifth, has now been purchased in four of his last five races.
The $20,548 trotting feature for developing horses went to the Tactical Landing filly Truly Authentic, who has now won two races in her last three starts (bridging last year and this) and Tuesday lowering her mark to 1:55.1. Ake Svanstedt trains and drove the improving miss, and his Ake Svanstedt Inc. owns her with Holm Hastgarden AB and Anne Siljamaki.
Racing resumes on Saturday, June 14 at Pocono, with the 1 p.m. card headlined by a $25,000 USD fast-class pace. The Sunday, June 15 card at 6 p.m. will feature top Pennsylvania-sired sophomore trotting fillies in the second prelim of their Sire Stakes and Stallion Series competition, plus recent Maxie Lee winner Aetos Kronos S in a $25,000 USD fast-class trot.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)