Wilkes-Barre, PA — Three $15,500 divisions of the top-level claiming handicap trot were featured on Tuesday afternoon (May 9) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
In the first division, Nasey was made the 7-5 favorite despite alternating between breaking stride and winning in his last six lines. This week, the Pilgrims Chuckie gelding won, making the lead soon after the first turn for driver Braxten Boyd and maintaining a length advantage over pocket sitter Truman Jr Hanover to the wire in 1:54.3. Tee Wine trains the trotter for Jemaxpo Racing Stable LLC.
The second division also went in 1:54.3, and, like the third division, produced a very close finish. The Archangel gelding Lexus Ranger is now two-for-two over the local oval for driver Jim Pantaleano, trainer Pierre Paradis and Elite Racing LLC after rallying up the inside from third-in to beat both second-place Unresolved Debt and third-place Its A Horse by a head.
In the third division, Simon Got Lucky equaled his 1:55.3 lifetime mark after closing from sixth at the three-quarters to defeat pacesetter Town Victor by a nose, with pocket-sitting Lady’s Image (who was claimed for $30,000) just a head away from taking it all. Simon Allard, who topped all drivers with four wins on the day, guided the Bar Hopping gelding for trainer Mark Akins and A 1 Racing.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (May 13) at 1 p.m. with an outstanding card of fast-class horses; on Sunday (May 14) at 6 p.m., Pennsylvania-sired 3-year-old pacing colts begin a two-week stay at the mountain oval with three $30,000 divisions of their Pennsylvania All-Stars event. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available on the PHHA website.