Wilkes-Barre, PA — The team behind the Captaintreacherous ridgling Trente Deo — trainer Bill Adamczyk, owner William Emmons, and driver Jim Morrill Jr. — showed just the right amount of patience with the 4-year-old pacer, and they were rewarded by earning the throne after winning the $50,000 final of their Game Of Claims Series on Saturday night (Feb. 29) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Trente Deo made a strong far turn move that carried him to a 1:52.3 victory. Curtis Salonick photo.

Owner Emmons saw the pacer win his first start in the series, then took him out of his second Game Of Claims start, paying $33,000 (with the 4-year-old allowance, the base price slightly elevated through all the series prelims), which he also won.

Emmons and Adamczyk, knowing the horse had enough points to make the final already, kept him out of the third leg, avoiding losing him to a claim, and their foresight paid off after Morrill gave the winner a second-over trip in the final, making a strong far turn move that carried him to a 1:52.3 victory.

In the $30,000 Game Of Claims final for $15,000 base-price horses, Team Allard had just the right amount of skill and luck as the Royal Art gelding Royal Heart pushed his record to 2-for-2 for them with a 1:53.3 triumph.

Royal Heart posted a 1:53.3 triumph. Curtis Salonick photo.

The Allard barn took the winner out of the second leg for $17,500, then raced him last week and had double fortune in that he both produced a rallying victory (ensuring his spot in the finale) and was also passed over in the claiming box.

In the final, Simon Allard kept Royal Heart in the two-hole behind Horsing Around, the fastest pacer in the elims whom the Allards had lost via claim last week, then out-muscled that rival home here for brother/trainer/owner Rene Allard.

The Allards had the best night at Pocono on Saturday, with Simon winning four races and Rene conditioning three winners.

The $17,500 pace for fast-class horses saw the two handicapped with the outside posts, Twin B Tuffenuff and Atta Boy Dan, turn in a fierce stretch battle, with the former nosing out the latter in 1:52.3.

Twin B Tuffenuff took early command, got a :29.2 breather, then sprinted home in :56-:28.2 to withstand the unrelenting grind of Atta Boy Dan, last year’s Pocono Pacer of the Year.

The victorious son of Rock N Roll Heaven was driven by Matt Kakaley for owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi and trainer Ron Burke.

The Saturday/Sunday action at Pocono goes to its usual 7 p.m. post time starting tomorrow. Monday is added to the 2020 schedule this week, with first post at 4 p.m.