Wilkes-Barre, PA – The five $7,500 divisions of the second preliminary action for Game Of Claims Pacing Series horses wearing a $9,000 basic tag this week, held Monday (March 13) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, saw no repeat winners from the initial week of their series.

Toddler Tantrum was the fastest Game Of Claims winner on Monday at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Two of the five winners were claimed for the second straight week, but neither of those were the fastest winner. That honor went to Toddler Tantrum, who skipped the first preliminary, won in 1:53.3 for driver Braxten Boyd, and will be changing homes this week, along with winners/double claimees Pantheon Hanover (1:54.4., also with Boyd aboard) and Caviart Skipper (1:55.2, Jim Morrill Jr.)

The two winners who did get to go back to familiar surroundings after their Monday wins were Lincolnjames (1:54.4, Matt Kakaley) and Somwherenbrookln N (1:55.2, Tyler Buter).

The action at the claiming box, in terms of claims / money changing hands, totaled four/$36,000 Monday, 27/$530,375 for the three-card week ending Monday, and 65/$1,244,125 for the young meet.

In the $15,000 trotting feature for the overnight horses, the Walner gelding TNT Blue Chip lowered his mark to 1:54.3 under not the best of racing conditions under the guidance of Anthony Napolitano. TNT Blue Chip moved after the :28.2 quarter to take the lead, put up fractions of :57.2, and 1:26.1, and was under no threat in the stretch as he was victorious for trainer Bruce Clarke, co-owner with Patricia Waldeck.

For the second straight day Anthony Napolitano guided home four winners, giving him ten for the three-day racing week and tying him at the top of the meet standings with Matt Kakaley at 26.

The third and final preliminary legs of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series will be taking place over the 1:00 cards on this coming Saturday (March 18), Sunday (March 19), and Monday (March 20) – the horses’ final chances to earn spots into their rich Championship the week afterwards, while the owners and trainers will be completing their game of “musical chairs” to see who can have a GOC favorite in their barn ahead of the finales. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.