Wilkes-Barre, PA —The annual Bobby Weiss Series for developing sophomores, named after the noted former trackman at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, got its 2022 edition underway on Saturday (April 2) afternoon, with three $20,000 first-round preliminaries for three-year-old trotting males.

Weslynn Crown was the fastest winner in the first preliminary of the Weiss Trotting Series Saturday afternoon at Pocono. Curtis Salonick Photo.

Fastest of the trio of winners was the Father Patrick colt Weslynn Crown (Josert Fonseca), who is now two-for-two in his young career after controlling the pace and taking a new mark of 1:56.1, 1-1/2 lengths ahead of 40-1 surprise Beer Cheese (Anthony Napolitano). Unraced at two, Weslynn Crown will be one of the favorites in this series for trainer Nancy Takter and the ownership of Equinex Racing Corp., Caviart Farms, and R A W Equine Inc.

The Explosive Matter gelding Malone (George Napolitano Jr.) set the pace in his Weiss section, then held on through the stretch to win by a length over inside-shooting Paymaq (Andy Miller) in 1:56.2, also his fastest clocking ever, in his seasonal bow. Napolitano Jr. handled the lines behind Malone for trainer Greg Peck (of Muscle Hill fame) and owners Howard and Joshua Kauffman.

El Toro Loco (Tyler Buter) remained undefeated during 2022 in his second start this season, invading from The Meadows and looking very good in a 2-3/4 length victory over Pinewood Hanover (Andy Miller) in 1:56.3. A Walner gelding, El Toro Loco was guided by Buter for trainer Tom Loughry Jr. and Lone Wolf Stable.

The class the Weiss horses may eventually reach, the $25,000 handicap trot, went for the second straight week to Eurobond (Matt Kakaley), winner of five of his last six, this one in a 2022 Pocono-fastest 1:52.3. Assigned the outside in the field of seven, Kakaley took third early with the son of Love You, then made a strong move in front of the stands to take the lead by the half over favored Big Oil (A. Miller). That rival gave chase in the Pocono Pike, but Eurobond closed in :28 to win by a half-length while boosting his bankroll to $456,025 for trainer Mike Spaccarelli Jr. and Morrison Racing Stables.

The pacers also posted their fastest Pocono mile of 2022, with the improved Captaintreacherous gelding Captain Romance (G. Napolitano Jr.) fronting good opposition while lowering his mark to 1:50.1 for driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Robert Baggitt Jr., and J L Sadowsky LLC. “George Nap” wound up leading driver on the day with four victories.

The final action in the 2022 Game Of Claims Series takes place on Sunday’s 5 p.m. twilight card, the $25,000 Championship for trotters with a $15,000 base claiming tag. The only double GOC prelim winner, Sundancediamond, does draw the rail for the final, but six of his seven rivals show prelim wins, and the winner will have earned his crown. Program pages are available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.