Wilkes-Barre, PA — Driver Simon Allard has now taken both $30,000 Bobby Weiss Series Championships conducted so far at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono following a victory on Tuesday (April 23). He added another distaff victory to pacer Cardiff’s yesterday with Town Hall Justice, who lowered her mark to 1:53.4 despite a track that was downgraded to “good” after mid card rain.

Town Hall Justice took the $30,000 Bobby Weiss Series Championship at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Curtis Salonick Photo

The victorious Justice Hall mare forced a 27.2 quarter before yielding to Run Lindy Run, then came out soon after her opponent tripped the timer in 56.2 at the half. Allard got his charge to the lead late on the backstretch, with the two favorites Fade Into You (two-time prelim winner) and Spring In Paris (three-time prelim winner) on her heels at and past the 1:24.2 three-quarters.

Despite the presence of the heavyweights on her tail, Town Hall Justice was more than equal to the challenge, proving a length better than Fade Into You, with Spring In Paris another 1-1/2 lengths back. 

In this Weiss division’s $15,000 consolation, the Kadabra mare Northern Dream took a new mark of 1:57.4 in an exciting finish that saw five horses within three-quarters of a length at the wire. Northern Dream, trained by Michael Rashkin for owner Timothy Betts, was sent three-wide late on the backstretch by driver George Napolitano Jr., got to two-wide midturn, and just was able to nose out pacesetting favorite Critical Hanover in the last step.

Eclipse Me N had to overcome a difficult trip but managed to pull off a two-length victory, winning in 1:51. Allard sat behind the talented Real Desire mare, who has earnings of $224,744 for Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Donald Mac Rae.

FINISHING LINES – The world’s fastest trotter, Homicide Hunter (1:48.4), will be out to qualify tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at Pocono. George Napolitano Jr. is set for sulky duty for trainer Chris Oakes, just as the pair teamed to win their Breeders Crown event at the mountain oval last year. Homicide Hunter will start from post six in race six.