Wilkes-Barre, PA — Buzz was buzzed to the early lead around Lady’s Image and then maintained his advantage to the wire in the $25,000 final of the Game Of Claims Series for $15,000 claiming trotters, held Sunday (April 3) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Buzz held off Lady’s Image to win the Game Of Claims trotting final Sunday at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Making his local debut for owner-trainer Stacy Currie, Buzz’s new proprietor chose driver Jim Pantaleano, who had driven the winner of $413,174 to a win and a second-place finish in two prelims – each for a different trainer. Both trotter and driver showed their consistency amidst changing circumstances, going to command before the quarter and then resisting the late inside charge of Lady’s Image by a half length in 1:55.3 over a sloppy track.

On the pacing side, the $17,000 distaff feature saw Tempura Hanover prove a classic “second start back” winner in 1:53.4. After closing from last at the top of the stretch to take third in her seasonal debut last week, this time driver Mark MacDonald made two speed moves with Tempura Hanover and stayed in control, with Alta Madeira N coming within a half length at the finish. Gilbert Garcia-Herrera owns and trains the Captaintreacherous mare.

Braxten Boyd, in his first dedicated season at Pocono, drove four winners Sunday and is now in sixth place in the standings. Leader Matt Kakaley brought his local win figure to 50 in the 16 cards of racing so far this year with three tallies on Sunday.

Bobby Weiss Series sophomore fillies will dominate the spotlight on the Monday (April 4) card at Pocono, as $20,000 divisions of the first preliminary will find five fields of pacers and three groups of trotters looking to show improvement in their 3-year-old seasons. Post time is 1:30 p.m.; program pages are available on the PHHA website.