Tell Us More leads all North American harness horses in 2017 victories after he won his 13th race of the campaign Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, taking one of two $18,000 claiming pace features in 1:50.4.
George Napolitano Jr. sent the altered son of Tell All to the lead past the :26.2 quarter and the pair was typically ruthless from there, posting middle splits of :55.2 and 1:22.1, with a strong finish producing an eight-length victory, the gelding’s fifth in a row. Tell Us More now has a one win advantage in 2017 over Private Interview, who will attempt to regain a share of the lead Sunday night at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
As for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Susan Oakes, they had a short but very profitable relationship with Tell Us More –- they claimed him for $20,000 last week, won $9,000 in purse money tonight, and saw him haltered for $24,000, for a week’s profit of $13,000 minus training fees.
George’s brother Anthony won the other $18,000 claiming feature with One To Draw To, and went even faster, 1:49.3, leading at the :26 quarter, :54 half, and 1:21.3 three-quarter pole en route to his third triumph in succession. The victorious son of Major In Art won for trainer Steve Salerno, also co-owner with James Potter and Triple D From Tennessee, but alas these connections suffered the same fate as did the Oakes family, as the horse will now also change hands through the claiming box.
In the top conditioned pace, worth $16,500, the Rocknroll Hanover gelding Sweet Rock overhauled 2-5 favourite Ontario Success with an individual last quarter of :27.2, winning by a half-length in 1:50.4. Marcus Miller had sulky duty for trainer Wayne Givens and owners Legacy Racing of DE Inc., Reggie Hazzard II, and Gary Calloway.
Three-year-old trotting fillies go postward Sunday at Pocono in the third leg of their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes preliminaries, with Treviso, the only double winner, heading one division and 2016 divisional champion Fine Tuned Lady topping the other.
(PHHA / Pocono)