Jul 27, 2010 | Racing
WILKES-BARRE, PA — In Focus, piloted by provisionary driver Jim Takter Jr., won the Open I Handicap Trot Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
It was young Takter’s second lifetime victory in five starts.
In Focus, the five-year-old SJ’s Photo gelding left from the one hole in the seven-horse field and sat second behind BigPepper (George Napolitano Jr.) with the opening split in 27 seconds and half in 57.
Takter tipped out and soon became the new leader down the backside with the three-quarters clicked off in 1:24.4. In Focus was a winner in 1:54.2. Second by a head was a fast closing Dennis (Andrew McCarthy) with third-place going to Grain Of Truth (Tom Jackson), only a quarter of a length back.
Farifant, piloted by McCarthy and trained by Anette Lorentzon, captured the Open II Trot with a time of 1:54.4.
This marked the third win in a row for Farifant at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Second to Farifant was Stand Guard (Napolitano Jr.), three lengths back with Badboy Paparazzi (Mike Simons) third.
There also was an Open III Trot on the 16-race card with that winner being P J Clark (Jim Morrill Jr.). P J Clark stopped the timer in 1:54 followed by Broadway Paige (Matt Kakaley) and All About Justice (Simons).
Laura Shock trains P J Clark, a winner for the sixth time in 19 starts in 2010.
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.
