from the PHHA/Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA — The pacing males saw their first action in the Bobby Weiss Series on Saturday night (April 7) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, contesting three $15,000 divisions of the first preliminary round.
Curtis Salonick photo
I Soar Him First took a new mark of 1:52 in his Weiss Series contest.
Fastest of the trio of winners was the So Surreal gelding I Soar Him First, taking a new mark of 1:52 in his second start for owner/trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera. George Napolitano Jr. pointed I Soar Him First right to the top, and indeed the sophomore was seen first at every call, with a back half of :55.4.
Also earning a lifetime speed badge was the Roll With Joe 4-year-old stallion Goose Mountain, whom Simon Allard brought under the wire first in 1:52.2 while overcoming a tough two-move trip. James Healey owns and trains the developing pacer.
The only one of the Weiss winning trio who did not take a new mark was the Rock N Roll Heaven colt Heavenly Sound, largely because he was coming off a 1:50.4 triumph at The Meadowlands. Saturday’s win at Pocono gave him two straight, with Tom Jackson moving him to the lead in front of the stands, and the colt also stepping home in :55.4, last quarter :27.2, to get the job done in 1:52.2 for trainer Bruce Saunders and M&M Harness Racing LLC.
An excellent $25,000 winners over pace saw the Mach Three gelding Awesomeness ride the pocket and then the Pocono Pike to pay dirt, taking his second straight and fourth in his last six starts, in 1:50.4. Driver Jim Morrill Jr. saw no reason to argue with success, having used the two-hole trip and inside stretch route as a path to Victory Lane last Saturday, and then repeated the feat this week with Awesomeness for trainer Brett Pelling and owner Martin Scharf.
Finishing Lines: After winning the opening race of the night with I Soar Him First ($7.20) in a Weiss division, driver George Napolitano Jr. came right back 18 minutes later with $53.00 shot Naked City, generating a Daily Double worth $500.20. “George Nap” now has more 2018 appearances on the $50-plus “Bomber” list (one) than he did in all of 2017 (when his brother Anthony led the local colony in that stat).