from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Dash Of Danger and Highalator each took their second straight win in Bobby Weiss Series action during the second preliminary round of the $750,000 Weiss Series Sunday night (April 9) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, but it was Dakota Jack who established the speed standard for the night’s Weiss action by capturing the first race on the card, one of four $15,000 divisions for male pacers, in 1:51.3.

The son of Duneside Perch saw Western Tyrant pass him early, but then driver George Napolitano Jr. (four wins on the night) moved Dakota Jack to the lead in front of the stands and never relinquished his advantage, holding off a late bid by Western Tyrant by three-quarters of a length while taking a new mark for trainer Matias Ruiz and A Piece Of The Action LLC.

Curtis Salonick photo

Dash Of Danger was a 1:51.4 winner for driver Matt Kakaley.

The Western Terror 4-year-old gelding Dash Of Danger had to overcome the outside post seven in his Weiss cut, but never seemed in real danger while coming home in :55.3–:27.3, winning by 2-1/4 lengths and equaling the 1:51.4 lifetime best he took in the first Weiss leg. Matt Kakaley handled sulky command for trainer Ron Burke and the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Marc Reynolds.

Highalator used pocket rocket tactics to record his seventh victory in succession, storming home to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53.1. The Somebeachsomewhere colt was again handled by Victor Kirby for trainer Jenny Bier and owners Daryl Bier and Charles Dombeck.

The Bettor’s Delight colt Rough Odds, making his 2017 debut, was sent to the track ready by trainer Chris Ryder, having to come first-over and still able to step his last quarter in :26.4 to catch pacesetting Art N Music by a neck and reduce his best time to 1:53.2. Andrew McCarthy was in the sulky for owners Robert Mondillo, Craig Henderson and Oompa’s Farm Inc.

On the female sidewheelers side, the Camluck mare Cousin Mary came to town after winning all four of her starts in Yonkers’ Petticoat Series including the championship, but she had to work hard for her initial Pocono and Weiss victory, pacing home in :27.1 to catch the previously-unbeaten Warrawee Sunshine, making her 2017 debut, by a half-length in a personal best of 1:53.1. Driver Anthony Napolitano and trainer Andrew Harris were the winning team behind Cousin Mary, who is owned by Jeffrey Williamson.

Napolitano and Harris also took another of the distaff prelims, also worth $15,000, with the Always A Virgin filly Itty Bitty, sharply-improved in her second seasonal start while lowering her personal best to 1:52.4, shaving off almost seven seconds from her old mark. Itty Bitty stormed past pacesetter I Deal In Kisses and won by a not-itty-bitty margin for Evan Katz, Robert Darrow and A Harris Racing LLC.

In all, Anthony Napolitano had four sulky successes Sunday, in three of them teaming with Harris.

The Art Major filly Twist Of Fate made every pole a winning one in her Weiss split, taking a new mark of 1:53.4 under the guidance of Corey Callahan. Joe Holloway handles the conditioning of the promising sophomore for Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz and Four J’s Stable LLC.

The first Monday card of the season will be held at Pocono this week, with the first post at 6:30 p.m. This establishes the basic Pocono seasonal setup of four consecutive cards between Saturday and Tuesday in the normal racing week.