Wilkes-Barre, PA – The Captaintreacherous gelding Shipshape, taken at The Meadows for $6,000 by Team Pirillo – trainer Justin and owner Gianna – on February 5, now has earned $26,710 for his new connections after triumphing in the $20,000 Championship of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for $15,000 base-tagged horses in 1:52.4 Monday afternoon (March 24) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Shipshape, who had sandwiched a fourth between victories in the preliminaries, forced favored Tellitsabb to go :26.1 to grab the early lead, then sat in the golden chair during midfractions of :55.3 and 1:23.2. Driver Jim Pantaleano then guided the winner to the Pocono Pike and streaked past the leader to enjoy a 1-1/2 length margin at the wire.
With a Game Of Claim Series trot for horses valued between $20,000 and $30,000 starting in two weeks, diamondgaiters in that price range have been the interest of many, none more so than Chapolier, a Chapter Seven gelding who won in the $16,000 co-feature handicap claimer Monday in the fastest time of the year on the trot at Pocono, 1:53.2, despite the outside post eight. Tyler Buter – the horse’s fourth successive new pilot – had the driving assignment in the quick mile, and Chapolier will be going to a new barn for the fourth straight time, after a one week’s reunion with trainer Hunter Oakes and P T Stable which ran his winning streak to five.
Tyler Buter came home first four times Monday, chipping into the meet advantage of Monday doubler George Napolitano Jr.; the latter’s lead is now 37-35.
Game Of Claims pacing horses ten divisions deep will race for $9,000 a section in Tuesday’s (March 25) final preliminary leg for a group which will carry a base tag of $15,000, headed by two-time prelim winners Stick With Cramer and Captain Terminator as this grouping heads towards its $17,500 Championship a week later. The Tuesday Pocono card will also feature carryover pools in the first race Pick 4 and fifth race Pick 3. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.