from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Ooh Bad Shark has been nothing but Ooh Good Shark since starting her 2015 campaign earlier this month, and Wednesday night (April 29) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono she went a stunning mile in 1:49.2 to win the $25,000 handicap mares pace.

Curtis Salonick phot

Ooh Bad Shark was a neck winner in a time of 1:49.2.

The 7-year-old daughter of Cam’s Card Shark opened her season with a win at Harrah’s Philadelphia, then in her last two races had been third and second to the rampaging Show Runner, who entered Wednesday’s race with a six-race winning streak.

But Ooh Bad Shark’s driver Jim Morrill Jr. knew his mare was sharpening, so he made a daring quarter-move from fifth at the noted frontrunner after a :26.4 opener, and paced her own second quarter in :26.3 to go by Show Runner at the :54.2 half.

Down the backstretch Ooh Bad Shark had Show Runner literally breathing down her back, and then Valerya made a huge first-over bid that carried her to within a length of the leader at the 1:21.4 three-quarters. Around the final turn, Show Runner finally began to melt a bit, but Valerya actually drew on even terms with Ooh Bad Shark as they turned for home.

In the stretch Valerya actually got a head in front, but Morrill kept asking his mare, and she had more to give, fighting back to the top past mid-stretch to finally eke out a neck decision. Show Runner held for third, another two lengths behind.

Veteran William Wiggins could not have a sharper distaff in his care, and Wiggins is also co-owner of the winner of $394,405 with Donna Fedorak.

Pocono will be featuring a doubleheader of racing on Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day, with the 11 a.m. card highlighted by four divisions of a PA All-Stars contest for 3-year-old trotting colts, and the 6:30 p.m. evening session is topped by the Van Rose Memorial Pace for the free-for-all set.

The northeast PA track ends a racing “holiday weekend” Sunday with three divisions of the PA All-Stars event for the Hambletonian set’s filly counterparts. Such promising sophomore misses as Livininthefastlane, third in her Breeders Crown final last year, 1:54.2 2-year-old Lilu Hanover, and Goldsmith Maid elimination winner Gatka Hanover will be among the fillies trying to make their marks in the early season.