Veteran driver Tom Jackson, a winner of over 3,000 races lifetime, lit up the tote board twice within an hour in 'sloppy' going Monday night at Mohegan Sun Pocono, bringing home Con Air Hall in the third race and Papiamento three races later.
Jackson used rallying tactics with both winners, coming on with Con Air Hall ($61.20) from fifth at the three-quarter pole to win by three-quarters of a length, and then rallying Papiamento ($62.80) from eighth at the stretch call to get a nose decision. The two “bombers” gave Jackson four $50+ longshots on the local scene in 2016, tying him for the track lead with Marcus Miller.
In between, another veteran Ed Lohmeyer, won his first race in 377 days, and only his second in just over four years, when he sent Casa Palmera uncovered and then glided off to a three-length win, taking her first start in 2:00.2. The filly’s training pattern was classic Lohmeyer – without breaks, she went 2:06.2 in her first qualifier, 2:03.2 in her second, and then won her third qualifier in 1:58.3 at The Meadowlands before breaking her maiden here.
Why do we say “classic Lohmeyer”? The late Communicators Hall of Famer Bruce Stearns enjoyed telling the story – especially appropriate this week -- of approaching Lohmeyer after a May 1981 qualifier at Liberty Bell. Ed’s three-year-old had just gone in 2:02, and when Bruce asked him about the colt, Lohmeyer said, “He’ll be all right.”
Three months later, Landslide and Ed Lohmeyer were in the Adios winner’s circle.
(PHHA/Pocono)