Pocono: Trotters duel in a pair of series

The Tuesday afternoon card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania saw trotters in the spotlight, in both four $20,000 divisions of the first preliminary of the Weiss Series for sophomore fillies, and in six $20,000 divisions of the second preliminary of the Game Of Claims Series for horses carry a base claiming tag this week of $27,500.

The quickest mile turned in during the Weiss action was 1:55 3/5 by the Walner miss A Good Chardonnay, setting the pace and holding off potential pocket rocket EEE Z Wow by 1 1/4 lengths while breaking her maiden for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller, whose Andy Miller Stable Inc. shares ownership with Michael Anderson and Jean Goehlen.

The Bar Hopping filly Bella Macchiato lived up to 1-10 backing, making two moves in controlling the pace and winning in 1:56 4/5 by three-quarters of a length for driver Josert Fonseca, trainer Nancy Takter, and the ownership of Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter, Goran Anderberg, and the trainer.

Drivers Tyler Buter and Jim Pantaleano had a victory in both the Weiss and the Game Of Claims. Buter's Weiss win was with the Father Patrick filly Over Board, whose strong rally carried her to a 1:56 3/5 maiden victory for trainer Carter Pinske and the team of Pinske Stables and Lizanne Waples. Pantaleano brought home the Walner filly Quite Fast, whose three-quarter length win in 1:57 2/5 came in her introduction to trainer Pete Kaiser; she is owned by Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, and Brilo Farms.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

With his victory in a career-best 1:53 3/5 during Game Of Claims action, Manofmanymuscles (one of four Tuesday wins for Jim Pantaleano to lead all drivers) became the fastest series winner of the day, the only double winner in his GOC division, and also the only series winner of the day to be claimed.

Tyler Buter's GOC victory came in the second-fastest mile in the series competition, a 1:54 2/5 score behind Town Victor which equaled his mark. Other Game Of Claims winners were Nasey (1:54 4/5, driver Braxten Boyd), Diehard Seelster (1:55 2/5 to equal his mark, Marcus Miller), Simon Got Lucky (a lifetime-best 1:55 3/5), and Can't Say No (1:56, George Napolitano Jr.).

Racing returns to Pocono on Saturday at 1 p.m.; the second round of the Weiss Series for 3-year-old pacing colts would find any repeat winner really enhancing his chances of making the $50,000 Championship on April 29.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--