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-
Jun 24, 2010 | Racing
WILKES-BARRE, PA –Aracache Hanover and Pang Shui, both $100,000 winners in purse money in 2010, will battle in the first of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old colts and geldings Monday (June 28) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Both topnotch pacers drew inside posts for the race with Pang Shui leaving from the one post and Aracache Hanover leaving alongside from the two post.
Pang Shui won a Pa. Sire Stakes division at the Meadows in his last start, pacing the mile in 1:50.4 from the one hole. This three-year-old colt also finished second in the Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs this past May, pacing that mile in 1:49.4.
Ray Schnittker trains Pang Shui.
Aracache Hanover, trained by Gregg McNair, also is coming off a victory in a three-year-old condition pace at Mohawk in Canada. The three-year-old went wire to wire from the six post and was timed in 1:50.1.
Each of the three divisions will carry purses of $88,000-plus.
On Tuesday, June 28, it will be the three-year-old pacing fillies grabbing the limelight at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack. Each of these divisions will carry purses of $87,000-plus.
Opening division will feature Ruffle’s Kiss and Dancinwiththestarz. Ruffle’s Kiss, trained and driven by Joe Pavia Jr., is coming off a sire stakes win at Chester with a time of 1:51.4. She’s won three of her seven starts this season.
