Pocono: Tequila Monday still undefeated this year, Guardian Angel AS dominates in co-features

Tequila Monday was an in-charge repeat winner in the Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) for mare pacers Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, home in 1:52 1/5 over a “sloppy +1” track with the mercury hovering around 40. In the companion GNOS contest for open trotters, also worth $30,000, Guardian Angel AS was sharp in his second outing of the year, winning easily in 1:53 1/5, with Homicide Hunter never a major factor in his debut for both the year and for the Burke Brigade.

Kissin In The Sand, second after going first-over against Tequila Monday in the GNOS opener last Saturday at Harrah's Philadelphia, was scratched sick here, taking a little of the drama out of the race, but the great 2018 filly champion, even with expected improvement in her second seasonal start, would have had it tough against the razor-sharp winning daughter of American Ideal. The rest of her opposition sure did.

Apple Bottom Jeans got her customary flying start even from the outside post seven, with Tequila Monday and Bettor Joy looped and pressing onward on the first turn. Tequila Monday made the lead nearing the 27-second quarter, while Bettor Joy, enjoying her cover until then, went on to get the lead at the three-eighths, backing off the half to 56 1/5 and the three-quarters to 1:25.

However, Bettor Joy hadn’t raced since the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final on April 20 after her Ohio difficulty, and in the 27 1/5 sprint home Tequila Monday roared up the famed Pocono Pike, going by easily for a 1 1/4 length victory. Bettor Joy held admirably for second, with Apple Bottom Jeans clearing late and coming on for third.

Tequila Monday has now won all six of her seasonal races, with earnings of $91,750 this year and $833,462 lifetime, during which she has won 23 of 50 starts. Tyler Buter, who is winning quite more than his share of feature races at Pocono in recent days, had the sulky assignment for trainer Hunter Oakes and the ownership of Northfolk Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.

In the GNOS trotting event, Guardian Angel AS, fourth from the trailing post 11 in his seasonal bow at the Meadowlands after coming from ninth at the three-quarters, obviously benefited from the outing (the bettors made him the favorite). He let JL Cruze speed away to take the early lead, then moved outside to the 27 3/5 quarter and took command, hanging up middle fractions of 56 4/5 and 1:25 1/5, with La Grange gaining first-over.

The victorious son of Archangel, though, had plenty left in the tank, sprinting home in 28 seconds to be 3 3/4 lengths clear for driver Tim Tetrick, with La Grange and Weslynn Dancer next in line. Homicide Hunter, unraced since winning the Breeders Crown at Pocono last October 27, had a wave of trotters leave inside of him from the outside post eight, settled in fourth, and then stayed in rather than go out for a second move after the long layoff. He was shuffled behind a tired horse in the last quarter, finishing sixth.

Guardian Angel AS, meanwhile raised his lifetime bankroll to $544,780 with his 17th win in 42 lifetime trips to the gate. A winner in a Breeders Crown elim last year (he was fourth in the final), the winner is trained by Anette Lorentzon for ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--