The second preliminary round of the Game Of Claims Series for higher-priced horses, snowed out last week, took to the track on Saturday (March 5) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono with six divisions each of horses with a base tag of $27,500 and $17,500, respectively, raising more questions that providing answers.
One source of continuity was the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Bobby K Hill, who was the only two-time winner in the initial prelims of the higher-price series (each section going for a $20,000 purse). He held off Blow A Cloud N by a neck for driver Jim Pantaleano in 1:54 – and was claimed for the second-straight start. New owner Melvin Fink now has to weigh losing race sharpness if keeping the horse out next week – or possibly losing the horse if entering him in the third and final prelim.
Fastest winner in this group was Western Tyrant, also in rein to Pantaleano, who posted a 1:52.4 mile – and gets to stay with trainer Jason Brewer and owner James Fleming after having nobody enter a claim. The two other winners for the $27,500 tag who were claimed were Lincolnjames (1:53.1, driver George Napolitano Jr.) and Sullivan (1:53.2, Matt Kakaley); the two other successful horses who were not claimed were Rollin In New York 1:53.2, Matt Kakaley) and Cinnabar Dragon (1:53.1, Simon Allard).
There was also only one repeat winner in the $12,500 sextet of contests for the lower base price – the Big Jim gelding Derecho, who was driven by Kakaley to victory in 1:52.3, co-fastest mile in this group (and faster than any of the times of the more expensive fields) along with Legal Power (Anthony Napolitano), who was claimed for $7,000 three back, $10,000 two back, but avoided changing hands when entered here for $17,500.
Other winners who will be moving to new homes will be Cyrus Peak (Matt Kakaley, 1:53.1), Parklane Jet (Matt Kakaley, 1:53.4), and Classifiedmaterial (Tyler Buter, 1:55.2, who added a wrinkle in being taken for $15,000, because that’s what he was entered for in his last scheduled start, from which he was scratched). Going back to familiar surroundings will be Bass Player (1:53.4, George Napolitano Jr.) along with Legal Power.
In all, there were 35 claims during the Saturday card, raising the total to 76 during the first five days of the Pocono meeting, with the $778,750 changing hands for prime horseflesh Saturday boosting the local 2022 total to $1,527,500.
In reading the Game Of Claims winners, Matt Kakaley’s name was next to five of the victorious horses. The five-bagger gives Matt 23 trips to the winners circle in only five days of Pocono racing, an average of 4.6 victories per card.
One other horse deserving mention is the six-year-old Russell Hanover gelding Aflame Hanover, who won over $250,000 at three facing the best that North America had to offer. Saturday he paced the fastest mile of the year at Pocono, 1:51.3, despite having to go first-over for driver Braxten Boyd, with his lifetime bankroll now at $458,380 for his co-owners, trainer Linda and Tony Schadel.
(PHHA / Pocono)