Jul 20, 2010 | Racing
WILKES-BARRE, PA —Riina Rekila and Christiana Hanover made track history Tuesday night in winning an $84,745 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Christiana Hanover established a new track mark for the sophomore fillies with the timer reading 1:53.4.
Winning horse went off 42-1 and returned $87.80, $26.00 and $9.00 across the board.
Rekila, also the trainer and making her first ever start at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, becomes the first female driver to own a track mark here.
And it certainly took a lot of racing luck for the attractive 28-year-old Finnish veterinarian now living and training horses in Canada.
Christiana Hanover was hopelessly locked in along the pylons and sitting seventh in the race when Perfect Chance (Jim Morrill Jr.) went on a break. That break gave Rekila and Christiana Hanover racing room and she came trotting up a storm down the stretch to win by a length over Action-Broadway (David Miller).
Rekila said she had made some changes to her winning trotter prior to the race and noted that she didn’t think Christiana Hanover would go that fast in the race.
She also acknowledged that the breaking horse in the race definitely aided in the win.
Secret Magic (Matt Kakaley) finished third in this division.
Opening divisional victor was Merger Blue Chip (Miller) with a time of 1:56.1. Merger Blue Chip, trained by Bjorn Noren, got a two-hole trip behind front runner Easy Dream (Jean Dubois) with times clicked off in 27.2, 57.2 and 1:.27.1.
Ally-Gal Ridge (Kakaley) finished second, a length and one-half behind with third-place going to Easy Dream.
Spicy Wings, piloted by John Campbell for trainer Jeff Webster, went wire to wire in winning the third and final division. Time of the mile was 1:54.3 and margin of victory was three and one-half lengths.
Barnham Hanover (Mike Wilder) was second with third-place going to Miss Ridge (George Napolitano Jr.)
Tuesday night’s open handicap trot victor was Grain Of Truth (Ray Schnittker) with a time of 1:54.
Jul 13, 2010 | Racing
Springboard upset Winner in Open I Handicap Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
WILKES-BARRE, PA — Springboard, with Jim Taggart Jr. in the sulky, made it three straight at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Tuesday night.
A 28-1 longshot, Springboard produced a life mark of 1:53.1 in winning the $24,000 Open I handicap trot.
Last week, Springboard and Taggart Jr. won the Open II trot with a life mark of 1:54.1 and also was a long shot in that race.
Trained and owned by Miles Wollam, Springboard is now two for two at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack after winning in 1:55.2 at the Meadows.
Taggart Jr. was a gapped second-over behind Grain Of Truth (Ray Schnittker) going down the backside with favorite Stand Guard (George Napolitano Jr.) on the front end.
A three-wide move was then made by Taggart Jr. at the top of the lane and the winner edged Southern Rocketop (Matt Kakaley) and Grain Of Truth by three-quarters of a length.
You’re Next (Joe Pavia Jr.) took the eight-horse field to the opening panel in 27.1 while Stand Guard was the new leader at the half and three-quarters with the times being 55.4 and 1:24.1.
BigPepper, reined by Napolitano Jr., won the Open II trot with a time of 1:54.2. This six-year-old gelding was making his first appearance for new owner John J. Wach of Boonton, N.J. and trainer Wendy Chellis. Wach claimed BigPepper for $23,000 on July 3 when the trotter won in 1:55 for trainer Lou Pena.
Badboy Paparazzi A (Mike Simons) finished second in Tuesday night’s race while Lord Darby (Eric Goodell) was third.
Jul 12, 2010 | Racing
WILKES-BARRE, PA —Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be lowering its takeout on Superfecta and Trifecta wagers beginning Monday, August 2, pending approval by the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission.
The promotion of lowering the takeout percentage from 35 to 25 percent on both exotic wagers will last through the end of the 2010 harness racing season.
“We’re going to experiment with the new takeout ratio,” said Dale Rapson, vice president of racing at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. “Our fans have been asking that we do so in order that they collect more on those winning tickets.
“It will be watched closely and we’ll take a look at our numbers following our last day of racing in November. We’re going to see what impact the takeout reduction will have on our live racing handle.
“I’m hoping that our move will be enthusiastically accepted by our fans here at the main track and at our off-track wagering sites along with all of our simulcast outlets throughout North America.”
Jul 10, 2010 | Racing
WILKES-BARRE, PA —Mike Lachance won four of the seven W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stake races Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
On day three of Grand Circuit Week, Lachance got things start in the opening division of the Meda for three-year-old trotting fillies. He was in the sulky with the heavily favored Devilish Emerald, who trotted the mile in 1:59.3.
Bill Zendt trains Devilish Emerald, now two for two lifetime after winning in her debut at the Meadows in 1:58.2.
“She’s a little hot but has a lot of speed,” said Lachance of Devilish Emerald in the winner’s circle.
“”I’d rather one a little hot than a lazy horse. She’s perfect right now.”
Lachance also won the first division of the Tar Heel for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, guiding 2-5 favorite Pang Shui to a victory in 1:51. Ray Schnittker trains this winner.
Easy Agenda, trained by Jimmy Takter, was Lachance’s next winner. He went wire to wire with the 8-5 shot and stopped the timer in 2:00.3.
The fourth Reynolds victory of the evening came with Aled Hanover, trained by Richard Norman. Aled Hanover was winning for the third time in eight starts this season.
Time of 1:51 was a new life mark for Aled Hanover.
Dave Palone owns the stakes record for most wins on a single night’s card with five.
George Napolitano Jr., the track’s leading driver, collected a Tar Heel victory with Eagle Jolt. The three-year-old Village Jolt gelding, trained by Mark Ford, stopped the timer in 1:52.3, a new life mark.
Veteran driver Roger Hammer drove Lyrical Lady to a Meda win in the second division of four for the young trotting gals. Trained by Walter (Boots) Dunn, Lyrical Lady won in 1:58.3.
It was a front end victory for Lyrical Lady.
Open handicap pace winner was Golden Receiver, piloted by Joe Pavia Jr. The five-year-old gelding, trained by Mark Harder, won in 1:50. This was the seventh win in 22 starts this season with earnings approaching the $150,000 mark with the victory.
Jun 28, 2010 | Racing
WILKES-BARRE, PA —Nova Artist, driven by George Napolitano Jr., and trained by Lou Pena, went wire to wire Monday night in winning one of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races for three-year-old colts and geldings.
Time of the mile was 1:51.2. This was the second victory in four starts for the three-
