The Game Of Claims Pacing Series will again be featured this week at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with 58 of the 60 horses claimed during opening weekend returning for their new connections in second-round preliminary action.
Claiming prices increase slightly in second-round action, so Saturday afternoon's (Feb. 20) seven $25,000 divisions will feature horses with a base tag of $27,500. Only the 13th race, the last preliminary at this level, features a matchup of two winners from opening week: one who was not claimed, I Get That, who paid $83.20 for trainer Mark Akins and draws post four; and one who was taken, American Rebel, who will begin from post six for trainer Daniel Renaud.
Saturday’s card, which begins at 12:30 p.m., also brings together five $15,000 sections of pacers who will go for a base tag of $17,500. Again, it is their last prelim of the day, race 12, which finds winners squaring off: one who was claimed last week (Sunset Braydon, post six, trainer Kelly Hastings) and one who was not (Fernado, post four, trainer Jennifer Bongiorno).
Sunday’s (Feb. 21) twilight card at 5 p.m. has four $10,000 divisions for horses with a $12,500 price, and all four of this level’s first-round winners drew into separate divisions. Such is not the case in the five $7,500 divisions for $9,000 base-tag performers that evening, as three first-round winners will square off in the evening's eighth race: Dontcallmefrancis (post six, trainer David Russo), Onlythetuffsurvive (post seven, trainer Marc Mosher) and Pop Icon (post nine, trainer Dennis A. Laterza).
Since Pocono lost its scheduled opening card on Feb. 6, a special card has been added for this Monday (Feb. 22) with a 12:30 p.m. post time and overnight horses featured during the program.
(PHHA/Pocono)