Pocono: Chamba inherits Game Of Claims title via placing

Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania rang down the curtain on its 2025 Game Of Claims Series events in classically dramatic style - there were even a Shakespearean Prologue and five "Acts" to the last contest. And in the final resolution of the $35,000 GOC Championship for high-level claiming trotters, it was 18-1 shot Chamba who got the big end of the money after In My Dreams crossed the wire first but was placed down for causing interference.

The prologue to this final came when the driver assignments were announced, as Anthony Napolitano, third in the Pocono standings, was named on both Altus Hanover and Golden Compass, the only horses to win in all three preliminary legs. Who was "Anthony Nap'"s choice? Surprisingly to many (but noted by good handicappers), he opted for In My Dreams, who had two wins and a second in the series, but hadn't gone as quickly as the streakers, and drew outside them to boot. (Afterwards, it appeared Anthony made a sharp, but unlucky choice).

The first four "Acts" in this drama were the traditional four quarters of the mile. Golden Compass grabbed the early lead, with In My Dreams going into the pocket by the 26 3/5 Act I, er, quarter clocking. Macmorris Hanover, who wound up being favored from the rail, was on the move at the first pole, and, after a brief skirmish, eventually got the lead in the middle of Act II, with the half reached in 56 1/5.

Act III had the most heavily-concentrated part of the drama in the mile. In My Dreams launched uncovered early down the back in front of Altus Hanover, only to put in some funky steps and go out into the three-path. That incident didn't appear to bother the second-over too much, but soon another development did - in getting back to two-wide to challenge the leader, In My Dreams appeared to take racing room away by crowding Altus Hanover, as that one gapped towards the 1:25 three-quarters.

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The last quarter (Act IV) found the troubled first-over horse putting away the pace-setting favorite fairly easily and going on to cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths to the good in 1:53 4/5. The Cantab Hall gelding Chamba, last at headstretch save for an early breaker, was skillfully steered through a small stretch hole by Simon Allard to photo-out Altus Hanover and cross the wire second.

In the traditional "fifth act," a final decision of the major dramatic action is usually featured, and indeed the judges launched an inquiry and found that In My Dreams had compromised the chances of Altus Hanover. The official 1-2-3 finish became Chamba, Altus Hanover, and In My Dreams, with Macmorris Hanover and Wabanaki dead-heating for fourth, another half-length back. Chamba thus got the winner's share for trainer Dean Eckley and owner Mark Akins in the memorable mile.

A $16,500 claiming handicap trot could be seen as a Consolation for those not making the Game Of Claims final. And a familiar name turned up in the winner's circle - the Chapter Seven gelding Chapolier, who won his only GOC start and thus missed the finale requirement of racing in all prelims. But Chapolier has done alright for himself, as these are his meet statistics from February 17 to April 29: eight starts, eight wins, $70,000 in earnings, wins for five different trainers (three of them twice, two of them once), and a sixth change of barns to take in after Tuesday's co-feature.

Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday, with live racing starting at 1 p.m. Developing younger horses will be featured on the live program; also, a certain Thoroughbred race from Kentucky will be available for watching and wagering later in the day. Bettors will already be into high gear by no fewer than three carryovers on the Saturday card: the last race Hi-5 wager will have gone 11 calendar days without being solved by Saturday, and the Pick 4 and Pick 3 will also have carryover pools.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--