from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Julio’s Girl, reserved by driver Eric Carlson off a spirited pace, passed half her race opposition from midstretch to score in Monday’s (July 23) $14,000 distaff claiming handicap pacing feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:53.1 on a sloppy track while paying $60.00 to win.

Unbeamlieveable, not worse than second in this class since joining it on June 11, customarily dashed to the front, and after the :26.4 quarter she was joined by an uncovered Sea’s Ideal, who pushed the leader and the fractions through middle splits of :55 and 1:23.1.

Carlson had Julio’s Girl in third-over position, followed second-over Rosy’s Outlook three-wide on the far turn, then tipped wider in the stretch. Those four were the major players in the drive to the wire, with the reserved energy of Julio’s Girl unleashed late to put her a neck up on the game Unbeamlieveable at the finish, with first-over Sea’s Ideal also courageous to take third and Rosy Outlook completing the superfecta.

Julio’s Girl is trained by Nick Surick for owner Cliff Grundy, and that duo will have the winner for her next start, something that can’t be said for three others in the race including Unbeamlieveable, with that trio combining in claiming price for a $66,000 turnover in the feature.

A member of the group of French trotters recently sold to a North American conglomerate of trainers and their interests, was victorious at Pocono on Monday. The Sam Bourbon 7-year-old gelding Bioness went to the quarter in :26.4 over the sloppy going en route to a 1:54.3 victory in his second Stateside start. Kevin Wallis, seventh among active North American drivers with 10,166 wins, handled sulky duties for trainer Chris Oakes and the Northfork Racing Stable, whose trotter boosted his lifetime earnings to $152,510.