Pocono: Game Of Claims Finals won by Whata Treasure, Sammy The Bull N

Though moving from post two to post six, the hard-closing Captaintreacherous gelding What Treasure actually got a better trip than the week before on Monday afternoon, taking the $20,000 Championship of the Game Of Claims Series for $10,000 base-priced pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:54 4/5, on a day with snow squalls, wind, and temperatures in mid-20s.

Last week Whata Treasure wound up a third-over last entering the far turn in his final prelim and could only get to third. This week, Anthony Napolitano had him on the move before the second turn, then picked up the cover of Skyway Fireball. When the first-over horse faltered on the far turn, Whata Treasure tipped three-wide, with his sights on pace-setting favorite P L Leeroy and pocket-pulling Rogue Cheddar. The three had a good fight through the lane, with Whata Treasure getting a neck decision over P L Leeroy, who photoed Rogue Cheddar for second.

After going home to a new barn after his three GOC prelim starts, Whata Treasure will stay in the care of trainer Justin Sodano, who claimed the horse last week for owner Barry Franklin (no claiming in the Game Of Claims Championships). Whata Treasure added the Championship to a first, second, and third in his three preliminaries, and made $18,700 in four weeks (albeit for four owners in that span).

In the $15,000 Championship pace for horses tagged at $7,500, Sammy The Bull N started his GOC action with a fifth at the $10,000 level, then came to $7,500s, was the only double prelim winner in this final, and added the Championship to his accomplishments with a 1:55 1/5 triumph. Driver Jim Morrill Jr. sent the 13-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding to the lead in front of the stands, then never looked back in a 2 1/4 length triumph over Somwherenbrookln N for trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner Eric Prevost, with the greybeard earning $15,000 in his three successes.

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A son of two Horses of the Year (Always B Miki and JK She'salady), the sophomore gelding JK Miki Mantle, hit a home run in his career debut with an impressive 1:55 3/5 victory, stepping his own back-half in 55 4/5 while winning by four lengths. Josert Fonseca drove the promising sophomore for trainer Nancy Takter and 3 Brothers Stables.

JK Miki Mantle is eligible for Pocono's upcoming Bobby Weiss Series for developing youngsters; the 2022 Weiss action gets underway during the mountain track's next card, Saturday at 1:30, with three $20,000 divisions of the first preliminary for 3-year-old male trotters. Also on the Saturday card is a $25,000 handicap trot, with Eurobond assigned the outside post seven and Big Oil post six after those two were first and second, respectively, here this past Saturday.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--