Wilkes-Barre, PA — Last week Turbo Hill and Sports Legend faced each other in a Bobby Weiss Series preliminary in the male pacers ranks. Turbo Hill drew inside his main rival, and even though Sports Legend was favored, Turbo Hill was victorious.

Sports Legend teamed with driver Jim Morrill Jr. to score in a lifetime best of 1:51. Curtis Salonick photo.

This Saturday (April 20) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, one crucial factor changed at the draw — Sports Legend drew inside Turbo Hill. Though the crowd went to Turbo Hill this week, Sports Legend teamed with driver Jim Morrill Jr. to use the positional edge to the max, winning a $15,000 division of the final preliminary in a lifetime best of 1:51.

Sports Legend, a 4-year-old Sportswriter gelding, flew away quickly, with Turbo Hill going with him but not able to circle him. Turbo Hill chose to take his chances sitting outside the favorite, but the fractions of :26, :54.2, and 1:22.1 proved too much for the two-wide chalk, as Sports Legend paced strongly to the wire, winding up 7-1/4 lengths to the good over On Accident, who beat Turbo Hill home for second by 1-1/4 lengths.

Jennifer Bongiorno saw the horse enter her barn between last year and this, and so far Sports Legend has a 6-4-2-0 record and the promise of even better ahead for owner Gestion J Y Blais Inc.

But lest you think that the Weiss final will come down to the positional shake for the two-time winners in the division above, you should also consider the American Ideal colt American Admiral, who overcame the outside post seven in his Weiss cut to equal his mark of 1:52.4.

George Napolitano Jr. sent him to the top in :27.3, got a big breather to the half in :58, then hit high gear and got a pair of :27.2 quarters from the 3-year-old coming home, fending off pocket-sitter Aflame Hanover by a half-length.

Andrew Harris seems to have the sophomore in peak form now for owners William, Ian and James Fleming, as after opening his career 1-for-13 American Admiral has now won three straight, the last two in the Weiss, and he may have the speed to go with Sports Legend and Turbo Hill.

The draw for this $30,000 Weiss championship, by the way, is Monday morning, and will be monitored in several camps.

Going into that draw, here’s an unofficial compilation of the top point winners: 1. Sports Legend, 2. Turbo Hill, 3. American Admiral, 4. Division Bell, 5. (tie) Aflame Hanover and On Accident, 7. Dakota Ole, 8. Major Escape, and 9. R U Talkin, with Love The Action and Springbridge Proud next in line (and heading a $15,000 consolation should it fill).

Soho Wallstreet A sat in as the favorite in the $21,500 fast-class pace, found clearance late on the far turn, and unleashed a terrific last eighth to win his second straight in 1:50.2. The son of Four Starzzz Shark, driven by Pat Berry for trainer Scott DiDomenico and the ownership of J G Racing Stable, had to have the sharp late burst to catch a stubborn first-over Sports Column by a half-length while raising his lifetime bankroll to $292,514.

Fifteen more horses changed hands via the claiming process in six tag events at The Downs on Saturday, with $243,750 spent to acquire tough stock to be competitive in the fast-paced Pocono action.

The Napolitano brothers had nine winners between them on the Saturday card, with George Jr. visiting Victory Lane five times on the night, and Anthony guiding four winners.

The Easter Sunday card at The Downs will have a special post time of 5 p.m.