Julios Girl, reserved by driver Eric Carlson off a spirited pace, passed half her race opposition from mid-stretch to score in Monday’s $14,000 distaff claiming handicap pacing feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:53.1 on a 'sloppy' track while paying $60.00 to win.
Unbeamlieveable, not worse than second in this class since joining it on June 11, customarily dashed to the front, and after the :26.4 quarter she was joined by an uncovered Sea’s Ideal, who pushed the leader and the fractions through middle splits of :55 and 1:23.1.
Carlson had Julios Girl in third-over position, followed second-over Rosys Outlook three-wide on the far turn, then tipped wider in the stretch. Those four were the major players in the drive the wire, with the reserved energy of Julio’s Girl unleashed late to put her a neck up on the game Unbeamlieveable at the finish, with first-over Seas Ideal also courageous to take third and Rosy Outlook completing the Superfecta.
Julios Girl is trained by Nick Surick for owner Cliff Grundy, and that duo will have the winner for her next start, something that can’t be said for three others in the race including Unbeamlieveable, with that trio combining in claiming price for a $66,000 turnover in the feature.
A member of the “French Foreign Legion,” a group of French trotters recently sold to a North American conglomerate of trainers and their interests, was victorious at Pocono on Monday.
The Sam Bourbon seven-year-old gelding Bioness, on his lines showing being accustomed to races from 3000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) to 3900 meters (c. 2 7/16 miles), must think the 1609 meters (1 mile) of U.S. racing is just a dash in the park, as he went to the quarter in :26.4 over the sloppy going en route to a 1:54.3 victory in his second Stateside start.
Kevin Wallis, seventh among active North American drivers with 10,166 wins, handled sulky duties for trainer Chris Oakes and the Northfork Racing Stable, whose trotter boosted his life earnings to $152,510.
(PHHA / Pocono)