Game Of Claims Series has 14 dashes at Pocono

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The entire Monday afternoon (March 4) 14-race harness racing card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania was devoted to first preliminary round action of the Game Of Claims Series for two divisions — $10,000 races for $15,000 base-priced pacers and $7500 events for $7500 base-tagged pacers, both seven divisions strong.

The competitive contests saw 28 horses changing hands for a total outlay of $348,750, as owners try to buy horses capable of making their rich Championships.

On Monday Pocono’s top drivers were defending champion Matt Kakaley with four visits to Victory Lane and Anthony Napolitano with three. Kakaley and “Anthony Nap” were joined by the latter’s brother George with double successes in the $15,000-priced races, each having at least one winner in this section claimed.

Both Anthony Napolitano-driven success stories changed barns: the fastest winner on the day, Nob Hill Flash, who rallied from off a hot pace to get home first in 1:52.3 while equaling a lifetime mark, and Shazam Blue Chip, who used speedy tactics to report home first in 1:53.2.

NOB HILL FLASH REPLAY

The winning Kakaley claimant was Ithaca Hanover, a 1:55.1 winner from a trailing post nine – this year’s GOC allows racing from the second-tier spot for the first time in recent Pocono memory – with D J Seelster also a winner for Matt in 1:53.2. George Napolitano Jr. sat behind the barnchanger Sharky Bear (1:54.2); Musical Box was not haltered, but he equaled his lifetime best of 1:53 for George. The other winner at the $15,000 level was the longest-priced winner ($40.20) on the day, Johnny Chip, unclaimed in his 1:55 triumph for driver Jim Pantaleano.

MUSICAL BOX REPLAY

As noted, Kakaley doubled in the $15,000 class, and he also got home first twice in $7500 company: with Clouseau Hanover in 1:55.2, and the fastest winner for the lower tag (1:53.2), Rock King Deo, trained by Jacob Fox, the only other horseman to double within the $7500 races, as he later sent out Charlies Dragon, home first in 1:55 as handled by Ridge Warren.

The only $7500 winner haltered out of his race was Thatswhatisaid (driver Simon Allard), who said farewell to his own surroundings in 1:55. Also successful in this company were another Pantaleano-driven longshot, Lord Of Misrule ($27.20; 1:56.4), along with the other winner for Anthony Napolitano, Team Mac (1:55.2), and Rockin Medicine (Marcus Miller, 1:55.4).

The claiming box will be much quieter on Tuesday afternoon’s 1 p.m. card, with no claiming races scheduled (one starter allowance trot has two horses in for a tag). Featured will be a trio of $15,000 races for developing horses: one for trotters, one for female pacers, and one for male pacers. Free Pocono programs are available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

From the PHHA/Pocono Downs