Quiksilvr Bluechip streaked to his third straight score on Tuesday afternoon, June 3, winning the $21,918 featured claiming handicap trot at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania in 1:53.2.
Quiksilvr Bluechip, a Credit Winner gelding, had to overcome the “tuck then first-over” route, but he was able to draw away late to record his third straight victory for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Brandon Presto and owner Rocco Stebbins. Wabanaki (Ridge Warren) finished second, with Golden Compass (Matt Kakaley) finishing in the show spot.
Further, Quiksilvr Bluechip was claimed out of his Pocono win Tuesday for $39,726, going back to trainer Hunter Oakes – from whose barn Presto and Stebbins took the trotter for $34,247 last week.
In a $20,548 claiming handicap trot for horses just below the level of the feature field, Chamba, who hadn’t done much since getting placed first in the Game To Claims Championship at the end of April, put in the mile of his life, bottoming out his field while taking a new mark of 1:52.4 (one of two trots that produced a time only a fifth off the Pocono season’s record – Divine Spirit matched that clocking and also took a mark). No one was close during the last half to Chamba, who was driven by Simon Allard for trainer Dean Eckley and owner Mark Akins.
In all, five trotters equalled or broke 1:54 on the overnight card at the speedy mountain oval.
Tyler Buter and George Napolitano Jr., one-two in driving victories for the season at Pocono, were also one-two on this Tuesday card, with Buter winning four and Napolitano scoring three times.
Two-year-olds make their first appearance of the year at Pocono on Wednesday, June 4, with 10 fields of babies seeing their initial action on a qualifying card set for a 9 a.m. post.
Horsepeople are reminded that the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes / Stallion Series races originally scheduled for Pocono this coming Saturday, June 7 have been moved back one day to Sunday, June 8.
Pocono’s current schedule is Saturday at 1 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m., then Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)