by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs
Wilkes-Barre, PA — Village Hero N, a 4-year-old Village Jasper gelding who had finished second in the two preliminary legs of the Bird-Magic Series, scored a wire-to-wire victory this past Saturday night in the $36,850 final at Pocono Downs.
Driver Stephane Bouchard took advantage of the number one post by leaving quickly with Village Hero N, and they grabbed and early lead — and never looked back. The winner of the series, written for non-winners of $50,000 in 2005, through August 31, led the nine-horse field to the quarter pole in :263, the half-mile pole in :554, and the three-quarter pole in 1:231, and then stopped the timer in 1:511. Hot Rum (George Napolitano, Jr.) finished second and Davey Forsa A (Mike Simons) finished third.
Richard Bilach trains Village Hero N, who is owned by Richard R. Annunziata of Mahopac, N.Y. This was the fifth victory in 22 starts for Village Hero N, who recorded a new season’s mark of 1:511.
Meanwhile, Poised To Pounce, driven by Steven Brown and trained by Ricky Maher, Jr., won the Red Sox-Yankees Series Final. Poised To Pounce also left from the number one post and wired the field in 1:54, a new lifetime mark.
Poised To Pounce got to the quarter pole in :273, the half-mile pole in :572, and the three-quarter pole in 1:25l.
The win was the fourth in 28 starts for the 6-year-old Jenna’s Beach Boy gelding, who is owned by Barry R. Charles of New Rochelle, N.Y. Nestor Windswept (Mike Simons) finished second and Armbro Vaudeville (Joe Pavia, Jr.) finished third.
The Red-Sox-Yankees Series was written for horses who had started for a base claiming price of $7,000 or less in one of their last five starts, through August 31.