Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 31, 2010)—Don’t Know Chip, driven by Tyler Buter, won the $24,000 open handicap trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Tuesday night.
Buter, leaving from the No. 1 post, was sixth at the opening quarter with Speed Bomb (Matt Kakaley) showing the way. First split was timed in 27 seconds and half in 56.3 with Speed Bomb on top.
Don’t Know Chip was taken second over behind Dennis (Andrew McCarthy) going down the backside.
Speed Bomb continued to lead the way at the three-quarter mark with the timer reading 1:25.
Down the stretch Don’t Know Chip trotted past the field to win by 1 and1/2 lengths over Broadway Paige (George Napolitano Jr.) with Badboy Paparazzi A (Mike Simons) third.
In two previous starts in open handicap trot company at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Don’t Know Chip finished with sixth place finishes behind P J Clark and Farifant.
This was the fourth win of the year for Don’t Know Chip, trained by Rob Harmon. Victory pushes yearly earnings to more than $104,000.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 30, 2010)—It was a very special win for veteran trainer Jim McGettigan Monday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
For his three-year-old Malabar Millennium home-bred trotter not only won but equaled the track mark for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Pictures Of Millie, driven by George Napolitano Jr. and trained by McGettigan, stopped the timer in 1:53.4 to equal the track mark. That was established a month earlier by Christiana Hanover with Rena Rekila in the sulky.
Napolitano Jr. quickly took Pictures Of Millie to the front from the two post, getting to the opening panel 27.3, half in 56.4, three-quarters in 1:25.2 before trotting home in 28.2 to tie the track record.
This was the fourth win in six starts this season with two second-place finishes for the three-year-old filly trotter owned by McGettigan’s brother, Edward T. McGettigan of Norwalk, CT.
Jim, who trains at the Bloomsburg Fair Grounds, is a longtime trainer at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and this is his first track record here.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 28, 2010)—Vlos, coming up from the Meadowlands in New Jersey, won the $24,000 open pace Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Leaving from the No. 1 post, Tony Morgan quickly grabbed the early lead in the seven-horse field and produced a 2 and ½ length win over Southwind Tempo, the only mare in the race.
Time of the mile was 1:50.1 with Drive All Night (Anthony Napolitano) finishing third.
After the opening quarter was timed in 26.4, Vlos grabbed the lead and got to the half in 55.2. The six-year-old Dragon Again stallion, trained by Eric Mollor, was challenged by Southwind Tempo down the backstretch but the latter couldn’t get by on the outside.
Vlos was winning for the sixth time in 18 starts this season and was coming off a second-place finish at the Meadowlands with a time of 1:48.3.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 28, 2010)—The final Monday night of live harness racing at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be taking place August 30 with a 6:30 post.
Five nights of harness racing will be featured during the week starting with the Monday evening card since Friday night’s are being added for the remainder of the 2010 meet.
After the Monday card, live action will be taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Saul Needle, director of racing, noted that the finals of The Stallion Series for three-year-olds will be held Friday, September 3.
He reminded horsemen that the draw schedule is as follows: Tuesday for Friday, Wednesday for Saturday, Thursday for Tuesday and Friday for Wednesday.
That schedule will remain in effect through the final night of racing on November 13.
Horsemen having any questions should contact the race office at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Sep 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 25, 2010)—Big Bad John, a two-year-old Western Hanover colt, turned in an impressive 1:53 victory in the third division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
With David Miller in the sulky, Big Bad John sat second or third for three-quarters of the race before winning by a length and a quarter over Something For Doc (Brett Miller) with third-place going to 4-5 favorite McSocks (John Campbell).
“He’s coming along real well,” said Miller of Big Bad John in the winner’s circle. “He won very handily. I got to the outside and he took right off. “
Miller said trainer Ron Potter and the owners are pointing this freshman pacer to the Breeders Crown that will be taking place at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs October 9.
In the most exciting finish of the four divisions, carrying purses of more than $73,000, it was Hugadragon (Matt Kakaley) edging Alsace Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Mystic Desire (Tetrick) at the wire. This mile was timed in 1:53.1.
Ron Burke trains Hugadragon, a 15-1 longshot winner.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” said young Kakaley. “I got into him a little bit at the top of the stretch. He raced super today.”
Reckless Ric, trained by George Teague Jr. and driven by Howard Parker, found the winner’s circle in another sire stakes race for the freshman pacers, winning in 1:52.4, fastest of the stakes events.
“My horse couldn’t wait to shake loose after sitting second for three-quarters of the race,” said the veteran Parker.
“This was a big mile and he finished strong in the last eighth of a mile. He’s a big strong colt.”
Mr Carmine Fra (Brett Miller) finished second to Reckless Ric after being on the front end at the half and three quarters. Third went to Sky Mesa (David Miller), the opening quarter leader.
Twilight Artist, trained by Roger Hammer and driven by Tim Tetrick, overcame the eight hole to win the final division in 1:53.1.
It was a wire to wire victory for Twilight Artist, who now has six wins in eight starts, winning the Arden at the Meadows, The Stallion Series at Harrah’s Chester Downs and fair races at Honesdale and Gratz.
Twilight Artist was quickly taken to the front in the race.
“Hammer’s horses could leave and I relaxed him on the front,” said Tetrick following the race.
Tetrick got to the half in 57.2 after the opening split was timed in 27.3.
It was a half length win over Movie Idol (Corey Callahan) while finishing third was Keystone Velocity (Kakaley).
