by James Beviglia, for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — BJ’s Chinook wore down the heavy favorite Tom’s OK Lady to win the featured $20,000 Open Handicap Trot on Tuesday afternoon (August 28) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. In the process, the 4-year-old gelding matched the Pocono track record for his age group with his mile of 1:54.2. The record was set by Near The Limit last year.

Tom’s OK Lady took the lead shortly before the half-mile marker, but the fractional times of :27.4 for the quarter, :56.4 for the half, and 1:25.4 for the three-quarters took their toll on the mare. Driver Eric Goodell swung BJ’s Chinook to the outside on the backstretch to begin a first-over drive. After a long battle, the gelding pushed by in the final strides for the win. Tom’s OK Lady, a 3-5 favorite, settled for second while Self Professed picked up the show.

Ross Croghan trains BJ’s Chinook for owner Brian Nixon of Centerport, N.Y. The gelding now has five wins on the year after going winless as a 3-year-old in 2006.