Bartlett, Engblom dominate qualifiers at Pocono

WILKES-BARRE PA – Driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Per Engblom put on quite a show during a marathon 18-race qualifying harness racing session at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning. Bartlett led the field home ten times, while Engblom harnessed eight winners, and they paired together for seven victories.

Many of the horses out for the morning races were three-year-olds getting ready for the upcoming various Bobby Weiss Series for late-developing horses, including both of the fastest filly winners for their gait. Trainer Bruce Clarke took advantage of a pocket trip with Tagalong then sprang in the stretch to trot to the win in 1:57, the daughter of Walner quickest among several filly success stories on the day for B Clarke Racing LLC and Patricia Waldeck. (There were male trotters entered Wednesday as well, but they were beaten out either by contemporary fillies or older horses.)

The Sweet Lou filly Sweet Odds was also a pocket rocket to lead her grouping with a 1:55.3 time for Team Bartlett/Engblom and Morrison Racing Stables. On the colt side, another Sweet Lou offspring, the colt Mad River, closed in :27.2 to complete a 1:53.1 mile for Bartlett/Engblom and owner Daniel Sarafian, but while this colt fits the Weiss conditions, he was not nominated for the series. The Weiss action starts a week from Saturday on March 29, and each of the four sophomore events will follow up three preliminary rounds with a $50,000 Championship.

Open-class star pacers Desperate Man and A Rocknroll Star dueled in the last quarter in the quickest qualifier of the day, with the Shadow Play millionaire gelding Desperate Man catching his rival by ¾ of a length while posting a 1:51.1 victory for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander, and owner Kathy Cecchin.