Pocono Downs will be presenting its 2010 Horse of the Year Awards this Friday and Saturday as its 136-day harness meet concludes
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Pacer of the Year honours will be shared by two horses: Golden Receiver and Vlos.
Golden Receiver has been campaigning at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack since April and has won eight Open or Open Handicap Paces. Joe Pavia, Jr. has been the driver aboard the Village Jove gelding for trainer Mark Harder.
Vlos, trained by Eric Mollor, has come on late in the meet, as he has won four Open or Open Handicap paces. One of the wins came on October 9 with a 1:48.2 clocking, which equalled the all-time track mark. George Napolitano, Jr. was in the bike.
Grain Of Truth, a nine-year-old gelding trained by Ray Schnittker, has been named Trotter of the Year for the second straight campaign. Like Golden Receiver, Grain Of Truth raced mainly at Pocono for the entire meet.
Omen Hanover, a six-year-old mare trained by Nicholas Surick, garnered Mare of the Year laurels. She won five Open Handicap paces for fillies and mares at the track with either Matt Kakaley or Jim Pantaleano driving.
General Montgomery and Boos Boy will be sharing the Claiming Pacer of the Year honours.
General Montgomery, now trained by John Butenschoen but with Rob Harmon most of the season, started as a $7,000 claiming pacer before moving up the ladder and winning in the $10,000 and $12,500 claiming ranks.
Boos Boy, now in the Carmine Fusco barn, also was trained by Sarita Mosher and Anthony Napolitano when winning at the track. The four-year-old pacer started out as a $5,000 claimer in Ohio and ended up winning in the $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000 claiming ranks at Pocono.
Muscles To Spare, who is now with trainer Wendy Chellis, was named Claiming Trotter of the Year. The five-year-old Muscle Yankee trotter won seven times in the $12,500, $15,000 and $20,000 claiming ranks. Several of the wins came with trainer Mosher.
Members of the panel which selected the horses for 2010 honours were Jim Beviglia, track announcer; Randy Castellani, who is co-host of live racing show at Pocono; Saul Needle, director of racing, and John Zimich, public relations director for racing and a television host.
(Pocono)