The first day of April at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania was headed by six $12,162 divisions of the first preliminary of the Game Of Claims Series for pacers base-tagged at $13,514.
The track’s all-time winningest driver, George Napolitano Jr., brought home the winner of half those events on Monday, including two of a trio of horses emerging with the quickest times over a sloppy track. Both Lous Sassin and local newcomer Fredneck got around the off Pocono course in 1:55.3 in their respective victories for “George Nap.” Picard A bounced back to form in authoring a 1:57 success story.
Braxten Boyd matched Napolitano with three wins on the card, two of them in the Game Of Claims: Lyons Night Hawk in 1:55.4 and My Mind Is Madeup in 1:56.1. The latter horse was one of two winners haltered out of their race for the $13,514 claiming price; the other was Everything Z Tam, going to a new home after posting the other 1:55.3 time. Everything Z Tam was driven by Matt Kakaley, who later won two of the last three races to complete his own triple while staying ahead of George Napolitano Jr. in the dash standings, 47-46.
In keeping with the theme of horsemen posting triples in the soggy conditions, driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker combined to win with a trio of developing trotters. The Trixton mare Bingo Brain got her second lifetime win in 1:59.4, while visiting Victory Lane for the first time were a pair of sophomore colts: Victor Laszlo (sired by Chapter Seven, 1:57.2) and High Life (sired by Walner, 2:00).
Tuesday’s action at Pocono, beginning at 1 p.m., will be topped by six $17,500 USD divisions of the lone Game Of Claims trotting series, for horses carrying a base tag of $25,000 USD for this first preliminary leg.
(PHHA / Pocono)