Romantic Moment picked up her first victory of 2013 in impressive fashion, hanging tough on the front end to win the featured Preferred Pace for mares on Sunday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried the night’s top purse of $25,000.
Coming off a three-year-old season in which she won 10 of 16 races, Romantic Moment (American Ideal-Time N Again) had come up winless in her first four starts of 2013 before her trip to Pocono for trainer Jimmy Takter. She was the 2-1 second betting choice in the field of eight from the five-hole, but she proved herself the best by leading at every pole in the mile. Despite challenges from Four Starz Roe first-over on the backstretch and Rock N Soul from the pocket down the lane, Romantic Moment, with Andrew McCarthy in the bike, dug deep and nipped Rock N Soul by a neck in 1:50.2. Lorrie Please finished third.
With her first win of the season, Romantic Moment, owned by Brittany Farms, now has 13 career victories. Her lifetime earnings now stand at $1,027,752.
(With files from Pocono Downs)