Wilkes-Barre, PA – Nob Hill Flash and Ithaca Hanover swept their three preliminaries in the Game Of Claims Series, winning Monday (March 18) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania while carrying tags of $20,000 and racing for $10,000 purses. In another section of the multi-pronged GOC, Rock King Deo also made it three-for-three with a win in a $7500 event for horses valued at $11,000. Both of these Game Of Claims series matchups were for pacing horses.

Nob Hill Flash is all alone while completing a sweep of his Game Of Claims preliminary events. Curtis Saolnick photo.

Nob Hill Flash, a Nob Hill High gelding, had won by only a nose in his first two prelims, but on Monday he dusted his opposition by eleven lengths for driver Anthony Napolitano in a lifetime best of 1:52.2 on a chilly day. He also was claimed just before his $20,000 Championship next Monday, the only winner in the six divisions at this level to be haltered; Ithaca Hanover went right back to familiar surroundings after winning his third straight in 1:55.1 while being handled by Jason Bartlett.

Other than the above pair, no horse at this level won more than one preliminary. Included among that quartet was Finally Friday (Tyler Buter, 1:55.2), who returned $86.00 to win, biggest price of the young Pocono season; first-time series starter Global Crush (Anthony Napolitano, 1:54); Waimac Attack N (Matt Kakaley, 1:55); and Aerosmith Hanover (George Napolitano Jr., 1:54.1).

Rock King Deo was in the first of six divisions of the lower-tagged last prelim, and he tacked on his third consecutive success in 1:54.3 for George Napolitano Jr.; he will be going in his $15,000 Championship next Monday for new connections.

Three other Monday winners posted their second consecutive victory in other splits, including McNulty Z Tam (Anthony Napolitano, 1:55.2); among his victims was Charlie’s Dragon, the only winner in his first two prelims who couldn’t add a third on the card. Also doubling up were a pair of horses who went to new surroundings after their wins: Gemini Express, who took a new mark of 1:54 while benefiting from Tyler Buter’s guidance, and Hashtag Money, home in 1:55.4 for driver Simon Allard. Rounding out this level’s winners were Ranaldi (George Napolitano Jr., 1:55) and Twentysevenbelow (Braxten Boyd, 1:55.1).

“George Nap” led all drivers on the day with four wins; his brother Anthony and Tyler Buter each clicked three times. The only trainer to double was Dean Eckley, who handled a winner in each grouping of the GOC.

The overnight horses will be coming out 15 races strong as Pocono ends its racing week Tuesday (March 19) at 1 p.m.; younger horses will be spotlighted in four $15,000 contests. Free Pocono program pages can be found at www.phha.org.