Pocono: Elegant Dulupin FR wires rivals in Game Of Claims Championship

Elegant Dulupin FR took full advantage of the rail in the $40,000 Game Of Claims Series Championship for $25,000-based trotters, going wire-to-wire for driver Mark MacDonald while taking a new mark of 1:55.

Let go at 11-1 despite two preliminary wins, Elegant Dulupin FR left strongly and caused a "line-up," setting fractions of 27 1/5, 56 2/5, and 1:25 3/5. Many of the field made what looked like threatening moves on the far turn, but the Jasmin De Flore gelding Elegant Dulupin FR, who had lost 14 straight races on both sides of the Atlantic before hitting his current sharp four-of-seven form, trotted clear of his opposition for trainer John McDermott and the ownership of Jonathan Klee Racing, Justin Bolasci, and Hurrikane Racing LLC.

No one could come up with a preliminary sweep in the Weiss Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies; after the scores were tallied following Tuesday's two $20,000 prelims, four came within one of perfection: Kaddari, A Good Chardonnay, and Quite Fast won two prelims, and sire Walner fathered the winner of seven of the eight prelims during the three legs, including Tuesday's two winners.

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Kaddari, a $375,000 yearling purchase, started only twice in the Weiss - indeed, has only started twice in her career - but she has shown no weaknesses yet, winning in 1:56 3/5 with a strong inside burst after a pocket trip for driver Mattias Melander, trainer/brother Marcus, and Courant Inc.

Kaddari's main challenger in the divisional Championship may be Baby Oil, who broke her maiden on Tuesday with a 1:56 1/5 clocking, but who had two seconds in the other legs. Baby Oil used the engine and won safely for Team Orange Crush - driver Andy and trainer Julie Miller - and the partnership of Jason and Douglas Allen.

The first of the four $50,000 Bobby Weiss Series Championships for 3-year-olds will headline the card when racing resumes at Pocono Saturday at 1 p.m. The pacing colts and geldings will be first in the spotlight, with trotting colts and geldings, pacing fillies, and trotting fillies following in the remaining three days of the Pocono week.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--