from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Ms American Muscle and I M Fishin became two-time winners in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting females at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, capturing their $15,000 divisions of the third preliminary leg at the mountain track over off going on Tuesday (April 17).

Curtis Salonick photo

I M Fishin was a 1:58.2 winner in her Weiss Series division.

I M Fishin made a break in her first Weiss outing yet recovered for third, and in her next two series starts she has not been catchable. This week Anthony Napolitano sent her to the lead at the three-sixteenths around Miss Ruby (who had a win-break pattern, opposite to that of the winner), and the ABC Garland mare proved too strong for the opposition, defeating Miss Ruby by four lengths in 1:58.2 over a “good +2” track in mid-30s weather for trainer Jody Riedel and Super Mile LLC.

While I M Fishin was a well-supported favorite, the Donato Hanover filly Ms American Muscle caught the crowd by surprise, returning a $39.60 mutuel, the fans more influenced by last week’s miscue than by her win two starts ago. This week Marcus Miller kept her third-in, pulled her out at headstretch, and surged by the tired pacesetter Corrupt by a neck in 2:00.2. Jenny Melander conditions the late-charging miss for owner John Devito.

In the third Weiss section, Puma Blue Chip broke her maiden in 1:58.2, making a big sweeping move down the backstretch for driver Tom Jackson to move close to pacesetting One Fine Lady, then getting by her late to take a neck decision. The Chapter Seven filly is conditioned by Agostino Abbatiello for the Durazzano Stable.

In addition to bringing home the two-time Weiss winners, Anthony Napolitano and Marcus Miller also had the distinction of bringing in $50-plus longshots — Pocono’s second such “doubling up” in three cards. Body Slam used pocket rocket tactics to take the second for Napolitano at $53.80, while in the ninth Miller brought Heavens Dancer from far back to light up the board at $60.80. And both winners were coming off of victories in their previous starts.