WILKES-BARRE, PA (June 22, 2010) Scorpion Moon, driven by Jim Morrill Jr., captured the $24,000 Open I Handicap Trot Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
This marked the second straight victory at the Northeastern Pennsylvania in this condition, trotting the mile 1:54.1 over a sloppy race track.
Grain Of Truth (Tom Jackson), who has finished no less than third in the last 10 starts at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, was second in the race, ¾ of a length behind while third-place went to Dennis (Mike Simons), who was eded out for the second spot.
Opening quarter was timed in 27.2 with Grain Of Truth on top in the six-horse field with Scorpion Moon sitting third. It was shortly after the opening quarter Morrill Jr. took to the outside and was the new leader at the half, clicked off in 56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Scorpion Moon, the 4-5 favorite in the race, was winning for the eighth time in 16 starts in 2010.
In the Open II Trot, it was Mike Simons driving Shibboleth Hanover to a victory with a time of 1:54.3. This marked the third straight win for the four-year-old SJ’s Caviar stallion at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
The other two victories by Shibboleth Hanover, trained by Clarence Martin Jr., also were timed in 1:54.3.
Shibboleth Hanover won by 3 and ¼ lengths over Ginger Tree Jimmy (Larry Stalbaum) with Khifra Hanover (Kevin Sizer) finishing third.