Wilkes-Barre, PA — In the first preliminary of the Game Of Claims Trotting Series at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania last week, there were four divisions – but five winners, as there was a dead-heat for first in one of them. One of the dead-heat winners, Pisces Rising, on Tuesday (May 12) became the only two-time winner to date in the trotting series with a 1:55 victory in one of five $16,000 divisions, with the base claiming tag this week raised to $25,000.
An altered son of Father Patrick haltered for $20,000 out of the first leg by owner Guy Gemore and trainer Richard Johnson, Pisces Rising paid immediate dividends, coming on the grind just off the second turn and trotting his own back half in :56.3 under the guidance of Todd McCarthy to ward off the horse on his back, second-over Songs In The Wind (another first-round winner) by a neck. Pisces Rising went back to his own stall after the race as well, as only two horses, neither of them winners, changed hands this week, although the total transfer amount was a hefty $56,250.
Todd McCarthy won another division with Epos Ostervang DK, who didn’t race in the first leg. The Wishing Stone gelding is conditioned by the meet’s leading trainer, Per Engblom, and he trotted the fastest of Tuesday’s divisions, a lifetime best 1:54 for Engblom Farm LLC. Also skipping the first prelim but winning in the second was the Mister Anson gelding Sir Maverick, coming from Ohio and winning his second straight for owner Anastasia Meshkova; he was driven by Anthony Napolitano for new trainer Frank Calcagni.
Rounding out the success stories in the second series leg were Abruzzo, a Walner gelding who finished second in the first leg before posting a 1:54.2 win in the second for driver Jim Pantaleano and trainer-owner David Hoover; and The American Eagle, a son of Trixton who got the job done in 1:55.4 by a nose over 32-1 shot Dusty Dungarees for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Herbert Lux III, and owners William Mullin and Howard Taylor. The series’ final prelim will be held next Tuesday (May 19), with the $50,000 final on May 26.
Todd McCarthy and Anthony Napolitano recorded triples on the Tuesday card, while Braxten Boyd, meet leader Tyler Buter, and Ridge Warren notched doubles. Fourteen different trainers sent out winners on the 14-race card.
Saturday (May 16) promises to be a very big day at Pocono, with the 1 p.m. card spotlighting the glamour division 3-year-old pacing male set in $231,270 of action spread over three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions and six Stallion Series sections. Trainer Ron Burke has four of the prime contenders: Another C Note, undefeated in five starts this year, and Frantic Hanover, Al Papi, and Melillo, who have earned $1,366,911 already in their careers.
Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.