The Winter Is Coming Series for trotters had its first preliminary Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 4) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and if the times of the winners of the three $12,500 divisions mean anything – 1:55.3, 1:55.4 and 1:55.4 – there should be some excellent competitive trotting on tap right up through the $20,000 series final on Nov. 18, the penultimate card of the year at the northeast Pennsylvania track.
Author: from PHHA-Pocono
He Hunts big-time game at Plainridge
It had been five weeks since He Hunts visited the winner’s enclosure at Plainridge Park, and that win was his lifetime mark. But it was open season for victory on Tuesday (Nov. 4) afternoon as He Hunts bagged his fifth career win in the $17,500 trotting feature at Plainridge.
Cumberland Winter Festival begins Sunday
Racing resumes at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 2) for the first of 18 Southern Maine racing dates, known as the Winter Festival, with some of the Pine Tree State’s top trotters and pacers headlining the 10-race card.
Pandy picks long shot winners at Big M
On Friday (Oct. 31), USTA handicapper Bob Pandolfo had 10 winners listed and four top winners at the Meadowlands, and hit the early Pick-4 for $434.75 on a $36.00 play.
It’s no shocker! Elektra A scores in Big M feature
Elektra A used plenty of grit and determination to get the job done in the Friday night (Oct. 31) feature at the Meadowlands, a high-end conditioned pace for fillies and mares that went for a purse of $17,500.
On To Norway, Captain Optimistic head Hoosier Grand Circuit stakes
A quartet of six-figure Grand Circuit stakes for 3-year-olds highlighted the 13-race Harrah’s Hoosier Park program on Friday (Oct. 31), where On To Norway extended his win streak to 19 in the Carl Erskine and Captain Optimistic earned millionaire status in the Monument Circle. Meanwhile, Rodeo Drive Deo and Miracle Maven captured the Friday night filly features with emphatic performances.
El Toro Loco dominates Batavia trotters
After making a break at the gate last week as the prohibitive off-time favorite, El Toro Loco showed a complete reversal of fortunes on Friday (Oct. 31) as he dominated his peers in the $10,000 Clas AA trotting feature at Batavia Downs — and once again as the public’s choice.
Dover horsepeople’s meeting to be held Mon.
Horsepeople participating at the upcoming Bally’s Dover meet are advised that there will be a horsepeople’s meeting on Monday (Nov. 3) at 3:30 p.m. in the Bally’s Dover paddock.
Liberty Bell Stakes commence at Philly
The annual late-season run of the Liberty Bell Stakes series began at Harrah’s Philadelphia over a sloppy track on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 30), with 2-year-old males featured – each gait had two divisions, with $134,200 aggregate on the line in the four contests. It was a good day for pacing sire Tall Dark Stranger and trotting sire Captain Corey, as both studs accounted for the two winners on their respective gaits.
Mass. Breeders Stakes conclude at Plainridge
Plainridge Park played host to the $1.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes finals on Thursday (Oct. 30), where eight $150,000 divisions of the best state-bred trotters and pacers went postward on an afternoon that featured inclement weather and an off track. But, despite those conditions, several big miles were thrown as the eight champions were crowned.