Pacing mares divisional-leader Shartin N upped her seasonal bankroll to $590,040, most among all North American harness horses with a 1:48.4 effort in taking her $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) divisional event Sunday, July 29 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, while in the GNOS Trot Smalltownthrowdown went a 1:51.1 mile which ended Homicide Hunter’s winning streak at five.
Driver Tim Tetrick reserved Shartin N off the early pace, leaving Call Me Queen Be to take the lead in a :26.2 opener. Caviart Ally and then Tequila Monday brushed to the lead before the 54 half. Shartin N began an uncovered march towards the lead on the second turn but Tequila Monday still had the advantage on her right-hand neighbor at three-quarters in 1:21.2.
Shartin N showed grit, continuing forward and finally getting by Tequila Monday by a neck, with Caviart Ally one-and-a-quarter lengths off the top pair. The victorious daughter of Tintin In America, already the top moneywinner of 2018, advanced to just one off the continental lead for victories with her 12th of the campaign for trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Richard Pollucci and Jo-Ann Looney King.
Smalltownthrowdown and driver Simon Allard was away second in the trotting contest, then quarter-moved to the :27.1 opening clocking, getting a breather to a half in :56.1. Homicide Hunter sat fourth, then moved but his cover did not advance and he had to retreat back inside at three-quarters, timed in 1:23.4. Smalltownthrowdown continued strongly to the wire with no asking from Allard, winning by one-and-three-quarter lengths over Satin Dancer, with Homicide Hunter gaining some late after his weaving journey but having to settle for third, another length back.
Smalltownthrowdown is a gelded son of Cash Hall trained by Simon’s brother Rene and owned by Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, VIP Internet Stable LLC, and Bruce Soulsby. The winner of $768,038, after three seconds in the GNOS, finally visited Victory Lane in the series and moved to second behind Homicide Hunter in the pointstandings and a chance at his $100,000 Championship.
Driver Andrew McCarthy was honoured at Pocono for recently achieving his 2,000th win career. On hand to celebrate were his parents John and Narelle, all the way from New South Wales, Australia, along with his wife Katrina and children Finn & Olly.
(With files from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono)