by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Windsong Sheba and Supersfinalgarland didn’t work hard on Tuesday night (April 26) in winning the $19,250 Spring Training Pace Final for fillies and mares and the $18,850 Spring Training Trot Final, respectively, at Pocono Downs.

Both received trips and watched speed duels develop between contending horses.

Windsong Sheba, a five-year-old Run The Table mare trained by Derek Bickford and driven by Michael Cushing, sat second or third throughout the race before nipping pacesetter Stribbles (Jim Raymer) at the wire.

Stribbles, leaving from the one hole, got into a blistering speed duel with Sucrette (George Napolitano, Jr.). The two favorites got to the opening panel in :26.3 and the half in :55.1. Neither horse would give an inch until Sucrette started to wane before the three-quarter mark, finishing eighth in the race.

Meanwhile, Stribbles took the eight horse field to the three-quarter mark in 1:25 with Windsong Sheba right on his tail. Windsong Sheba, owned by John Korhonen of Livermore, Maine, took to the outside coming down the stretch and had enough to stop the timer in 1:55. Stribbles was second with third going to You Buy I’ll Fly (Mike Simons).

Windsong Sheba, a winner of three of 10 races this season, paid $17.60, $6.20 and $4.60.

Driven by Matt Romano and trained by John Hallett, Supersfinalgarland sat second or third on the inside throughout his final before the nine-year-old Garland Lobell gelding, owned by Hallett, Roger Doire, and Linda Michelle Oglesby, nipped favorite Pure Cadillac (Mike Simons) at the wire. Third in the race was another longshot, Moshannon Sierra (Mike Merton).

Napolitano, Jr. put Rock The Clock on top from the seven post at the start of the race, getting to opening panel in :27.3 with Pure Cadillac being taken to the outside at the three-eighths pole.

Pure Cadillac, the 7-5 morning line favorite who was looking to sweep the Spring Training Trot Series, stayed on the outside before taking the lead before the three-quarter mark.

The opening quarter was timed in :27.3, the half in :56.3 and the three-quarters in 1:25.4 before Supersfinalgarland was a winner in 1:56.4.

Rock The Clock finished seventh in the race.

This was only the second win in 14 starts this season for Supersfinalgarland but it couldn’t have come at a better time. Supersfinalgarland returned $35.40, $6.40 and $3.40.